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Laura Hewitson | |
---|---|
Born | 1969 (age 54–55) |
Alma mater |
University of Essex University of York |
Occupation(s) | Affiliate Scientist at
Washington National Primate Research Center Research Director at Johnson Center for Child Health and Development |
Scientific career | |
Thesis | Energy metabolism of the trophectoderm and inner cell mass of the mouse blastocyst. (1993) |
Laura Charlotte Hewitson [1] is a British-born primate researcher noted for her work in the fields of reproductive biology and behavior. She is an affiliate scientist at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) [2] [3] and an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. [2] [4] Additionally, she is the Research Director of the Johnson Center for Child Health and Development in Austin, Texas. [2] Hewitson was a staff scientist at Oregon Health Sciences University from 1997 to 2001. [5] From 2002 to 2010 she was an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine [6] and a member of the Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation (MWRI&F) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [6]
In 1990, Hewitson graduated with honors in biology from the University of Essex. [5] She earned her PhD in biological sciences at the University of York, England, and later moved to the United States in 1994 to pursue postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. [5]
Hewitson's research has primarily focused on embryo metabolism, cytoskeletal dynamics, centrosome abnormalities during fertilization, assisted reproductive technology (ART) in non-human primates and infant primate neonatal development. [6] More recently, Hewitson's research has focused on understanding genetic and environmental influences that lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, with special emphasis on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). [4] [6] Her research has been funded through the National Institutes of Health, [7] as well as private foundations. [4] [6] [7]
Hewitson's work on primate fertilization examined the role of the centrosome during assisted reproduction and identified unique check-points during the first cell cycle. [7] She also explored the safety of new methods of assisted reproduction by producing infant primates by ART to follow their early development and behavior (see Selected Publications).
Hewitson's more recent research has focused on the study of genetic versus epigenetic (environmental) causes of neurodevelopmental disorders. [4] [6] While at the University of Pittsburgh she researched the possible connection between pediatric vaccines and behavior and presented some of this research at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in 2008 [8] and the Neurobehavioral Teratology Society (NBTS) meeting in 2011. [9] She is now continuing this research with colleagues at the WaNPRC. [10] [11] Hewitson is also collaborating with colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School to identify blood biomarkers for autism. [2] With funding from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative [12] and the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), [13]
In 2010, Hewitson was the recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association Honors Research Award for her research in autism. [14]
Hewitson's work has been published in many journals, such as Science, Nature Medicine, Biology of Reproduction, Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, Developmental Psychobiology, Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, Autism Research and Treatment, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, and the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics.
![]() | This article has multiple issues. Please help
improve it or discuss these issues on the
talk page. (
Learn how and when to remove these template messages)
|
Laura Hewitson | |
---|---|
Born | 1969 (age 54–55) |
Alma mater |
University of Essex University of York |
Occupation(s) | Affiliate Scientist at
Washington National Primate Research Center Research Director at Johnson Center for Child Health and Development |
Scientific career | |
Thesis | Energy metabolism of the trophectoderm and inner cell mass of the mouse blastocyst. (1993) |
Laura Charlotte Hewitson [1] is a British-born primate researcher noted for her work in the fields of reproductive biology and behavior. She is an affiliate scientist at the Washington National Primate Research Center (WaNPRC) [2] [3] and an adjunct associate professor of psychiatry at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. [2] [4] Additionally, she is the Research Director of the Johnson Center for Child Health and Development in Austin, Texas. [2] Hewitson was a staff scientist at Oregon Health Sciences University from 1997 to 2001. [5] From 2002 to 2010 she was an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine [6] and a member of the Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation (MWRI&F) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. [6]
In 1990, Hewitson graduated with honors in biology from the University of Essex. [5] She earned her PhD in biological sciences at the University of York, England, and later moved to the United States in 1994 to pursue postdoctoral training at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. [5]
Hewitson's research has primarily focused on embryo metabolism, cytoskeletal dynamics, centrosome abnormalities during fertilization, assisted reproductive technology (ART) in non-human primates and infant primate neonatal development. [6] More recently, Hewitson's research has focused on understanding genetic and environmental influences that lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, with special emphasis on autism spectrum disorders (ASD). [4] [6] Her research has been funded through the National Institutes of Health, [7] as well as private foundations. [4] [6] [7]
Hewitson's work on primate fertilization examined the role of the centrosome during assisted reproduction and identified unique check-points during the first cell cycle. [7] She also explored the safety of new methods of assisted reproduction by producing infant primates by ART to follow their early development and behavior (see Selected Publications).
Hewitson's more recent research has focused on the study of genetic versus epigenetic (environmental) causes of neurodevelopmental disorders. [4] [6] While at the University of Pittsburgh she researched the possible connection between pediatric vaccines and behavior and presented some of this research at the International Meeting for Autism Research (IMFAR) in 2008 [8] and the Neurobehavioral Teratology Society (NBTS) meeting in 2011. [9] She is now continuing this research with colleagues at the WaNPRC. [10] [11] Hewitson is also collaborating with colleagues at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School to identify blood biomarkers for autism. [2] With funding from the Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative [12] and the Department of Defense Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program (CDMRP), [13]
In 2010, Hewitson was the recipient of the Invisible Disabilities Association Honors Research Award for her research in autism. [14]
Hewitson's work has been published in many journals, such as Science, Nature Medicine, Biology of Reproduction, Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, Developmental Psychobiology, Acta Neurobiologiae Experimentalis, Autism Research and Treatment, Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, and the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics.