Kenneth S. Zaret

Ken Zaret runs a biomedical research lab and is the Director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Ken is interested in the means by which genetic programs are activated in embryonic development, leading to the formation of different tissue types. Ken discovered that in embryos, certain gene regulators can overcome the inherent repressive effect that is imparted by the tight packaging of DNA in the cell nucleus. By understanding genetic control in normal development, it will help us understand how the system is disrupted in human disease and will inform about ways to re-wire cells, genetically, to create new cells for biomedical purposes. Ken has been active in science outreach to the public and providing opportunities for diverse students to gain research experience in the laboratory.