Alice F. Tarantal, Ph.D.

Professor
Primate Center Lab, Davis Campus
(530) 752-6680
e-mail

Recent/Current
Research Funding

National Institutes of Health

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine

Graduate Group Affiliations

Biomedical Engineering

Cell and Developmental Biology

Comparative Pathology

Clinical Research

Research Interests

Dr. Tarantal’s research program includes the following areas of translational research:

• Gene therapy
• Stem and progenitor cell therapies
• Pediatric models of human disease
• Fetal:maternal microchimerism
• In vivo imaging applications

Projects focus on hematopoietic, mesenchymal, endothelial, and embryonic stem cells for tissue regeneration and repair and transplantation.

The Center for Fetal Gene Transfer for Heart, Lung, and Blood Diseases conducts research on crucial questions in gene therapy for the fetus and infant. 

The Center of Excellence in Translational Human Stem Cell Research consists of projects that encompass central themes of cell expansion and reconstitution, transplantation and cell fate, pediatric nonhuman primate models, and in vivo imaging. 

Representative Publications

Butt MJ, Tarantal AF, Jimenez DF, and Matsell DG. Collecting duct epithelial-mesenchymal transition in fetal urinary tract obstruction. Kidney International 72:936-944, 2007. (Cover)

Hacia JG, Lee CC, Jimenez DF, Karaman MW, Ho VV, Siegmund KD, and Tarantal AF. Age-related gene expression profiles of rhesus monkey bone-marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells. Journal of Cellular Biochemistry 103:1198-1210, 2008.

Huang J, Lee CCI, Sutcliffe JL, Cherry SR, and Tarantal AF. Radiolabeling rhesus monkey CD34+ hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells with 64Cu-PTSM for microPET. Molecular Imaging 7:1-11, 2008.

Tarantal AF, Lee CCI, and Itkin-Ansari P. Real-time bioluminescence imaging of macroencapsulated fibroblasts reveal allograft protection in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Transplantation 88:38-41, 2009.

Batchelder CA, Lee CCI, Matsell DG, Yoder MC, and Tarantal AF. Renal ontogeny in the rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta) and directed differentiation of human embryonic stem cells towards kidney precursors. Differentiation 78:45-56, 2009. (Cover)

Tarantal AF and Lee CCI. Long-term luciferase expression monitored by bioluminescence imaging after AAV-mediated fetal gene delivery in rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Human Gene Therapy 21:143-148, 2010. (Cover and Commentary).

Lee CCI, Christensen J, Yoder MC, and Tarantal AF. Clonal analysis and hierarchy of human bone marrow mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells. Experimental Hematology 38:46-54, 2010.

Nakayama KH, Batchelder CA, Lee CCI, and Tarantal AF. Decellularized rhesus monkey kidney as a three-dimensional scaffold for renal tissue engineering. Tissue Engineering 16:2207-2216, 2010.

Recent/Current Teaching

CHA400, Development, Gross and Radiographic Anatomy

CLH220, Basics of Stem and Progenitor Cells

CLH221, Literature in Stem Cell Biology

Mentored Clinical Research Training Program - Pre-Clinical Models Curriculum

Scientific Director, UC Davis CIRM Stem Cell Training Program

Chair, Designated Emphasis in Stem and Progenitor Cells

Teaching and Research Awards

• 2004/05 School of Medicine Faculty Award