Sammy Lee (scientist)

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Sammy Lee (born Samuel Lee, 1958) is an expert[citation needed] on in vitro fertilisation.

Lee was a hospital scientific consultant.[1] His book "Counselling in male infertility" was published in 1996. He has also contributed a number of newspapers articles himself.[2] Lee was the "inspiration" for Anthony Ling, the character in the novel One Life by Rebecca Frayn (Simon & Schuster 2006, ISBN 0-7432-6876-8).[citation needed]

Contents

[edit] Current Research

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Dr Sammy Lee’s current interests lie in the field of stem cell biology and regenerative medicine. He is collaborating with various groups in the Anatomy Department at University College London examining the potential of bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells to give rise to neuronal/glial lineages in response to various growth factors and tissue culture manipulations. Sammy also teaches ethics in reproduction at University College London. In addition, he is also interested in the potential of umbilical cord derived stem cells to give rise to neuronal and glial cells in collaboration with ABC University of Sao Paolo, Brazil. His experience in IVF and embryo manipulation has also enabled him to routinely perform single cell analysis and study clonal populations of stem cells in culture.

[edit] Biography

With the realisation that many of the questions framed by his neuroscience research were rooted in the matter of differentiation, Lee concentrated on embryology, which led to work on gap junctions in early mammalian embryos (in the Anatomy & Embryology department at UCL), where work as a student under Anne Warner and Anne McLaren produced new information on factors affecting communication between cells and their developmental potential.[citation needed]

Lee became a clinical embryologist in 1985, when he directed the IVF laboratory at the Wellington Hospital in London, then one of the largest units in the world. Consultancy work with the UK division of Ares Serono (1986-1994) also involved work with the Bourn Hallam Group, which Patrick Steptoe and Bob Edwards had set up after Louise Brown's birth. From 1995 to 2002 he was based at the Portland Hospital for Women & Children.

Lee is now based again at UCL. He is interested in tissue engineering and teaching ethics in reproduction.[3] He is now working on tissue engineering and stem cells, mainly concerned with background research on stem cells and progenitors.

He has previously served as an international editor of the Brazilian Journal of Assisted Reproduction. He has served as a Trustee and |director of several charities. His curriculum vitae lists numerous scientific publications. He was elected as a fellow of the Royal Society of Health and the Royal Society of Medicine, both in 1987.[citation needed]

Lee's team at the Wellington pioneered the first UK practise of gamete Intra-fallopian Transfer (GIFT), The GIFT of Life (a technique invented by Ricardo Asch in the USA). The team was the second to carry out GIFT and then proceeded to post the largest series in the world in 1986.[4][5]

Lee also helped perform some of the first egg donations in the UK, when directing the Wellington Hospital IVF Laboratory.[citation needed]

Lee pioneered a simple inexpensive efficient form of Mechanical Assisted Hatching in the UK.[6]. He produced the world's first intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI with NASBA virus assay) virus free baby to an HIV discordant couple.[citation needed]

Lee has many media appearances having been on many TV shows as well as writing a number of newspapers articles . He has written several books of his own: such as Counselling in Male Infertility, and has also been a contributor/consultant in such books: The Miraculous World of The Unborn Baby (Quadrillion, Godalming, Surrey 1998) ISBN 1-85833-966-9, Natural Fertility (Hamlyn 2002) ISBN 0-600-60396-2 and Inconceivable Conceptions.

Lee is no stranger to controversy. In addition to his work in IVF, he has had differences of opinion with the HFEA, most notably over the issue of human cloning.[citation needed] He states that if it may be done safely and effectively, it may be morally justifiable.

Lee also wrote an article in the Sunday Times (10th November 2002) in the aftermath of a number of high profile embryo transfer mixups in several human IVF clinics.

[edit] Education and experience

Lee’s was educated at Mill Hill School and received a BSc in Physiology in 1979 from King’s College London He received a PhD in Biophysics from University College London under the supervision of Prof. Ricardo Miledi, in a group associated with Sir Bernard Katz. He later received a Diploma in Counselling in 1991, from London Hospital Medical College in 1991, and in 2004 a PGCE at the University of Greenwich.

Lee has held the following appointments:

  • Research Associate in Biophysics (1982-1984), and Anatomy & Embryology (1984-1985) University College London
  • Laboratory Director, IVF unit at the Humana Hospital Wellington in London (1985-1986)[4][5]
  • Consultant Clinical Embryologist, UK division of Ares Serono (human recombinant pharmaceutical company) [5]
  • Scientific Director of the Colchester Fertility Service (1992 to 2001)
  • Consultant Scientist and Director of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) at the Portland Hospital for Women & Children (1995-2003)
  • Acting Scientific Director for the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital (1999-2000).
  • Honorary Senior Research Fellow in Reproductive Medicine at the Homerton Hospital (2000-2005)
  • Honorary Lecturer in the Anatomy & Developmental Biology Dept., University College London (2003-present).[3]
  • Visiting Professor in Biomedical Science at the ABC Medical School in São Paulo, Brasil (2006-present)

[edit] References

  1. ^ Andrew Johnson. "Free NHS IVF treatment", Independent on Sunday, 2003-08-10. 
  2. ^ SPUC (2002-11-10). "Outrage at revelations by test-tube baby expert—call for moratorium". Press release.
  3. ^ a b S. Lee (2007). UCL staff webpage. UCL.
  4. ^ a b J Laurance. "The test tube dilemma", New Society, 1987-10-30. 
  5. ^ a b c C Harrison. "Failing to deliver", Public Eye, BBC, January 1991. 
  6. ^ A Kon. "My little miracle", Sunday Mirror, 1999-08-08. 

[edit] Further reading

[edit] Bibliography

[edit] Selected journal articles

[edit] Newspaper articles

[edit] Books & book chapters/contributions

  • S Lee (1996). Counselling in male infertility. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Press. ISBN 0-632-03906-X. 
  • S. Lee (2003). "Myths and reality in male infertility", in J. Haynes & J. Miller: Inconceivable conceptions. Routledge. ISBN 1-58391-168-5. 

[edit] External links