Dr. Franklin West is a world leading expert in stem cell biology with a focus in stem cell reprogramming and stem cell therapies for neural injury and diseases including stroke and traumatic brain injury. He was named one of the nation’s top scholars under 40 by Georgia Trends and Diverse: Issues in Higher Education magazines and has been featured on NPR, CNN and FOX News. Dr. West received a bachelor of science in biology from Morehouse College and a doctorate in stem cell biology from the University of Georgia, where he now holds position as an Associate Professor. Dr. West was a MARC (Minority Access to Research Careers) U-Star Research Fellow and a David and Lucille Packard Research Fellow at Morehouse College. Dr. West sits on the University of Georgia Research Foundation and steering committee of UGA’s Regenerative Bioscience Center.  He also serves as a regular reviewer for granting agencies including the National Institutes of Health. He has published numerous book chapters and scientific articles in international scientific peer-reviewed journals including Cell, Stem Cells and Scientific Reports.  Dr. West has produced the first live chimeric pigs from induced pluripotent stem cells, has developed novel stem cell to germ cell culture systems and a first-of-its-kind U.S. swine stroke model that has major implications on the treatment of human stroke patients.