Dr. Derrick Rancourt

Biography

Derrick Rancourt is a Professor at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine, with a focus on the Departments of Oncology and Medical Genetics. He received his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Guelph and his PhD from Queen's University, followed by a postdoctoral fellowship in the laboratory of Nobel Laureate Dr. Mario Capecchi. He directs the University of Calgary’s Centre for Mouse Genomics and is involved with research institutions such as the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute and the Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. His research program focuses on deriving, expanding, and genetically manipulating both mouse and human pluripotent stem cells, including embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells. Over the years, he has developed bioprocesses for generating bone and cartilage tissues from stem cells for transplantation. Rancourt's significant contributions include the development of methods to expand stem cells in stirred suspension bioreactors, which offer several advantages over traditional static culture methods. His current research investigates the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into osteoblasts and chondrocytes for applications in injury models, providing insights into cellular differentiation and bioprocessing.

Research Interests