Dr. Andras Nagy

Dr. Andras Nagy is a Shawn Kimel Senior Scientist at the Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health System, and a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and the Institute of Medical Science at the University of Toronto. He holds a Tier I Canada Research Chair in Stem Cells and Regeneration and is recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada in the Life Sciences Division of the Academy of Science. Dr. Nagy is a Foreign Member of the Hungarian Academy of Science, an Honorary Professor at the University of Helsinki, and holds a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the Hong Kong University. His extensive contributions to stem cell research and regeneration have established him as a leading figure in the scientific community.

Dr. Nagy made groundbreaking contributions to developmental genetics and pluripotent stem (iPS) cell biology, focusing on embryonic stem and induced pluripotent stem cells. In early 2000s, his team created the first Canadian human embryonic stem cell lines. In 2009, they pioneered a method for generating iPS cell lines without making any genetic changes to the cells. Their system allowed for a detailed study of the reprogramming process at multiple OMICS levels, providing insights into the dynamics of changes from differentiated somatic cells to pluripotency.

Dr. Nagy’s current research is highly translational, tackling two major challenges in cell therapies: ensuring safety and achieving allogeneic cell acceptance without the need for immune system suppression. His work in cell-based therapy is aimed at advancing medical treatments for a range of incurable degenerative diseases, including blindness, diabetes mellitus, arthritis, spinal cord injury, aging, haemophilia, chronic pain, and various neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis, depression, and bipolar disorder. Through these efforts, Dr. Nagy is contributing significantly to the development of innovative therapies that can potentially transform the treatment landscape for these conditions.

Throughout his research career, Dr. Nagy has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, contributing significantly to the scientific literature in his field. His publications have garnered more than 82,000 citations, reflecting the impact and relevance of his work in developmental genetics, stem cell biology, and regenerative medicine. This extensive body of work underscores his role as a leading figure in advancing our understanding of pluripotent stem cells and their applications in disease modelling and cell therapy.