Tenneille Ludwig, Ph.D., Senior Scientist and Director of the WiCell Stem Cell Bank

Dr. Tenneille Ludwig currently serves as a Senior Scientist and the Director of the WiCell Stem Cell Bank overseeing the banking, distribution, and core services operations at WiCell. Dr. Ludwig holds a Ph.D. in embryology and developmental biology with a minor in bioethics from The University of Wisconsin–Madison. Her early work in the laboratory of James Thomson (2001-2007) resulted in the development of mTeSR1 - a revolutionary medium at the time, it remains the most widely used pluripotent cell culture medium today. Dr. Ludwig's current work focuses on efforts to refine standards for banking, characterization, and distribution of research and clinically compliant materials, and working with investigators to support the advancement of stem cell technologies through clinical trial.

In addition to Tenneille's duties at WiCell she also serves as a member of the following organizations, committees, and boards:

    • ISSCR Clinical Standards Initiative (Steering Committee)
    • International Stem Cell Initiative (ISCI) Genetics Study Group (Steering Committee)
    • International Stem Cell Banking Initiative (ISCBI; Steering Committee)
    • ISSCR Manufacturing, Clinical Translation, and Industry Committee (Member)
    • COREdinates (President)
    • hSPSCreg Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry (National Representative)
    • UW-Madison Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center (Member)
    • UW-Madison ESCRO Committee (Member)
    • Madison College Biotechnology Training Program (Advisory Board)
    • Madison College Stem Cell Training Program (Advisory Board)

Selected References:

    • Ludwig, TE, Andrews, PA, et al.  ISSCR Standards for the Use of Human Cells in basic Research. Stem Cell Reports. In press.
    • Abranches E, Spyrou S, Ludwig T. GMP Banking of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A US and UK perspective. Stem Cell Res. 2020 May;45:101805.
    • Ludwig TE, Kujak A, Rauti A, Andrzejewski S, Langbehn S, Mayfield J, Fuller J, Yashiro Y, Hara Y, Bhattacharyya A. 20 Years of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell Research: It All Started with Five Lines. Cell Stem Cell. 2018 Nov 1;23(5):644-648.
    • Stacey GN, Crook JM, Hei D, Ludwig T. Banking human induced pluripotent stem cells: lessons learned from embryonic stem cells? Cell Stem Cell. 2013 Oct 3;13(4):385-8.
    • Ludwig TE, Bergendahl V, Levenstein ME, Yu J, Probasco MD, Thomson JA. Feeder-independent culture of human embryonic stem cells. Nat Methods. 2006 Aug;3(8):637-46.
    • Ludwig TE, Levenstein ME, Jones JM, Berggren WT, Mitchen ER, Frane JL, Crandall LJ, Daigh CA, Conard KR, Piekarczyk MS, Llanas RA, Thomson JA. Derivation of human embryonic stem cells in defined conditions. Nat Biotechnol. 2006 Feb;24(2):185-7.