Ophir Klein

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Ophir Klein
Born
San Francisco Bay Area, US
AwardsE. Mead Johnson Award
Academic background
EducationBA, 1993, University of California, Berkeley
PhD, 1999, MD, 2000, Yale University
Academic work
InstitutionsUCSF School of Dentistry
Websiteklein.ucsf.edu

Ophir David Klein is an American developmental biologist who specializes in pediatric medical genetics. Klein is Executive Director of Cedars-Sinai Guerin Children’s, Vice Dean for Children’s Services, Professor of Pediatrics, and the David and Meredith Kaplan Distinguished Chair in Children’s Health. He is also a professor of Orofacial Sciences and Pediatrics at UCSF.

Early life and education[edit]

Klein was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area[1] and he completed his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1993. Following this, he simultaneously earned his Ph.D. and medical degree from Yale University, where he also completed a pediatrics residency.[2]

Career[edit]

Upon completing his genetics residency at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) in 2007,[3] Klein joined their faculty as an assistant professor of orofacial sciences, pediatrics, and human genetics. In this role, he focused his research efforts on the genetic control of the development of craniofacial structures.[1] As a result, he received a California Institute for Regenerative Medicine grant for his project "Laying the groundwork for building a tooth: analysis of dental epithelial stem cells."[4] In 2009, Klein was appointed director of UCSF's Craniofacial and Mesenchymal Biology Program, later renamed the Program in Craniofacial Biology.[1]

Klein began his independent laboratory studying stem cells in the face and mouth. Due to this, he earned a 2010 National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director’s New Innovator Award to identify the genetic changes that led stem cells to arise in teeth during the evolution of mammals.[5] Using this grant, Klein's laboratory focused on understanding the processes underlying craniofacial and dental malformations and on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that enable epithelial renewal.[6] Klein was eventually promoted to chair of the Division of Craniofacial Anomalies and director of the Center for Craniofacial Anomalies.[7] He was also elected a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation in the same year.[6]

While serving in his new role, Klein collaborated with Jukka Jernvall at the University of Helsinki to create rodent teeth that replicate those of an earlier evolutionary time. Following this, Klein participated in the first phase I clinical trial to treat Ectodysplasin A in humans.[8] Later that year, Klein was recognized by the American Association for the Advancement of Science for "distinguished contributions to the field of oral biology, particularly in the development of a novel system for the study of dental stem cells."[9] The following year, he was the 2015 recipient of the E. Mead Johnson Award from the Society for Pediatric Research.[10]

By 2016, Klein refocused his laboratory to study how organs form in the embryo and how they renew and regenerate in the adult. Due to this, he received one of two new Sustaining Outstanding Achievement in Research awards from the NIH to support his research on the regenerative properties of craniofacial and dental stem cells.[11] Klein was also the recipient of the 2017 International Association for Dental Research (IADR) Distinguished Scientist Award in Craniofacial Biology Research.[12] In 2018, Klein was one of four UCSF faculty elected a member of the National Academy of Medicine for "demonstrating outstanding professional achievements and commitment to service in the medical sciences, health care, and public health."[13]

After serving as interim director since July 1, 2020, Klein earned a permanent appointment as Director of the Institute for Human Genetics in September 2021. Klein was also elected vice president of the IADR in 2020,[14] and has been a member since 2008. In 2022, he joined Cedars-Sinai as Executive Director of Guerin Children’s and Vice Dean for Children’s Services.[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Klein to Direct UCSF Craniofacial and Mesenchymal Biology Program". University of California, San Francisco. July 23, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ophir Klein, PhD, MD". University of California, San Francisco. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  3. ^ "Ophir Klein MD PhD as Director of the Institute for Human Genetics". September 8, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  4. ^ "UCSF faculty receive $13.7M from CIRM for stem cell research". Eurekalert. August 19, 2008. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  5. ^ Norris, Jeffrey (September 30, 2010). "UCSF Tops California Universities with Four NIH Director's New Innovator Awards". University of California, San Francisco. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "Ophir David Klein, MD, PhD". American Society for Clinical Investigation. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  7. ^ "School of Dentistry Announces Two New Faculty Appointments". University of California, San Francisco. July 16, 2013. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  8. ^ "Gene Behind Rare Birth Abnormality Is a Window on Evolution". University of California, San Francisco. July 30, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  9. ^ Maier, Scott (November 24, 2014). "Klein Named Fellow of National Scientific Society". University of California, San Francisco. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  10. ^ "Two IHG Members Receive Prestigious Honors". University of California, San Francisco. March 3, 2015. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  11. ^ Bai, Nina (October 13, 2016). "Ophir Klein Awarded $8M NIDCR Grant for Dental Stem Cell Research". University of California, San Francisco. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  12. ^ "OPHIR KLEIN RECEIVES THE 2017 IADR DISTINGUISHED SCIENTIST AWARD IN CRANIOFACIAL BIOLOGY RESEARCH". International Association for Dental Research. March 23, 2017. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  13. ^ "4 UCSF Faculty Elected to the National Academy of Medicine for 2018". University of California, San Francisco. October 15, 2018. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  14. ^ "IADR ELECTS OPHIR DAVID KLEIN AS IADR VICE-PRESIDENT". International Association for Dental Research. December 14, 2020. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  15. ^ "Pediatrics and Genetics Innovator to Lead Children's Health". Pediatrics and Genetics Innovator to Lead Children's Health. Retrieved 2022-05-06.

External links[edit]

Ophir Klein publications indexed by Google Scholar

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