Director
Edison Biotechnology Institute

Principal Investigator
Edison Biotechnology Institute

Background and interests

David Wight has served as director of the Edison Biotechnology Institute since 1995. His leadership of the institute is informed by experience as both a researcher and a business strategist. David’s current areas of professional interest include transgenic technology and mammalian gene expression and transfer.

Education

1997
M.B.A., Ohio University, Athens, OH

1985
Ph.D., Botany
Division of Biological Sciences,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

1981
M.S., Botany
Division of Biological Sciences,
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

1975
A.B. (with honors), Botany
Department of Biological Sciences
University of California,
Santa Barbara, CA

Director's Office Staff

Lori Abdella, Administrative Associate
Melissa Standley, Accountant

Professional activities and memberships

1999-2006
Board of Directors, Council of Biotechnology Centers

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Association of University Technology Managers

Sigma Xi

Selected Publications

Belecky-Adams, T., Holmes, M., Shan, Y.Q., Tedesco, C.S., Mascari, C., Kaul, A., Wight, D.C., Morris, R.E., Sussman, M., Diamond, J., and Parysek, L.M. An intact intermediate filament network is required for collateral sprouting of small diameter nerve fibers. Journal of Neuroscience, 23(28):9312-9319, 2003.

Uveges, T.E., Shan, Y., Kramer, B.E., Wight, D.C. and Parysek, L.M. Intron 1 is required for cell type-specific, but not injury responsive, peripherin gene expression. The Journal of Neuroscience, 22(18):7959-7967, 2002.

Iwase, M., Vechi, M., Vatner, D.E., Asai, K., Shannon, R.D., Kudej, A.K., Wagner, T.E., Wight, D.C., Patric k, T.A., Ishikawa, Y., Homcy,C.J. and Vatner, S.F.  Cardiomyopathy induced by cardiac Gs overexpression. American Journal of Physiology, 272:585-589, 1997.

Ludwig, D.L., Stringer, J.R., Wight, D.C., Doetschman, T.C.and Duffy, J.J.  FLP-mediated site-specific recombination in microinjected murine zygotes.  Transgenic Research, 516:385-395, 1996.

Iwase, M., Bishop, S.P., Uechi, M., Vatner, D.E., Shannon,R.P., Kudej, R.K., Wight, D.C., Wagner, T.E., Ishikawa, Y., Homcy, C.J.and Vatner, S.F.  Adverse effects of chronic endogenous sympathetic drive induced by cardiac Gs overexpression. Circulation Research, 78(4):517-524, 1996.

Gaudin, C., Ishikawa, Y., Wight, D.C., Mahdavi, V., Nadal-Ginard,B., Wagner, T.E., Vatner, D.E. and Homcy, C.J.  Overexpression of Gs protein in the hearts of transgenic mice. Journal Clinical Investigation, 95:1676-1683, 1995.

Chen, W.Y., Chen, N.Y., Yun, J., Wight, D.C., Wang, X.Z., Wagner,T.E. and Kopchick, J.J.  Amino acid residues in the third alpha helix of growth hormone involved in growth promoting activity.  Molecular Endocrinology, 9:292-302, 1995.

Wight, D.C. and Wagner, T.E.  Transgenic Mice: A Decade of Progress in Technology and Research.  Mutation Research, 307:429-440, 1994.

Cui, C., Wani, M.A., Wight, D.C., Kopchick, J.J. and Stambrook, P.J.  Reporter genes in transgenic mice.  Transgenic Research, 3:182-194, 1994.

Belecky-Adams, T., Wight, D.C., Kopchick, J.J. and Parysek, L.M.  Intragenic sequences are required for cell type-specific and injury-induced expression of the rat peripherin gene .  Journal Neuroscience, 13:5056-5065, 1993.

Chen, W.Y., Wight, D.C., Chen, N.Y., Coleman, T.A., Wagner, T.E.and Kopchick J.J.  Mutations in the third -helix of bovine growth hormone dramatically affects its intracellular distribution in vitro and growth enhancement in transgenic mice.  Journal of Biological Chemistry, 266:2252-2258, 1991.

Chen, W.Y., Wight, D.C., Mehta, B.V., Wagner, T.E. and Kopchick,J.J.  Glycine 119 of bovine growth hormone is critical for growth-promoting activity.  Molecular Endocrinology, 5:1845-1852, 1991.

Yun, J.S., Li, Y., Wight, D.C., Portanova, R., Selden, R.F., and Wagner, T.E.  The human growth hormone (hGH) transgene: expression in hemizygous and homozygous mice.  Journal of Experimental Biology and Medicine, 194:308-313, 1990.

Chen, W.Y., Wight, D.C., Wagner, T.E. and Kopchick, J.J.  Expression of a mutated bovine growth hormone gene suppresses growth of transgenic mice.  PNAS, 87:5061-5065, 1990.

Rothwell, G.W. and Wight, D.C.  Pullaritheca longii gen. nov.and Kerryia mattenii gen. et sp. nov., Lower Carboniferous cupules with ovules of the Hydrasperma tenuis-type. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 60:295-309, 1989.

Beck, C.B. and Wight, D.C.  Progymnosperms.  In: C.B.Beck (ed.), Origi n and Evolution of Gymnosperms.  Columbia University Press, New York, 1988.

Wight, D.C.  Non-adaptive change in early land plant evolution.  Paleobiology, 13:208-214, 1987.

Stein, W.E. and Wight, D.C.  Latin abbreviations for type specimens -- a discussion of generic concepts in paleobotany.  International Organization of Paleobotany Newsletter, 30:5-7, 1986.

Wight, D.C. and Beck, C.B. Sieve cells in phloem of a Middle Devonian progymn osperm. Science, 225:1469-1471, 1984.

Stein, W.E., Jr., Wight, D.C. and Beck, C.B.  Possible alternatives for the origin of the Sphenopsida.  Systematic Botany, 9:102-118, 1984.

Stein W.E., Jr., Wight, D.C. and Beck, C.B.  Arachnoxylon from the Middle Devonian of southwestern Virginia.  Canadian Journal of Botany, 61:1283-1299, 1983.

Stein, W.E., Jr., Wight, D.C. and Beck, C.B.  Techniciques for the preparation of pyrite and limonite permineralizations.  Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology, 36:185-194, 1982.