Actin Specialist James Lessard, PhD CV

PERSONAL

	Address:	Division of Developmental Biology Children's Hospital Research Foundation, 3333 Burnet Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039
	Phone:	(513) 636-8308
	FAX:	(513) 636-4317
	Email:	james.lessard@chmcc.org

EDUCATION/TRAINING

	1965	B.S. Chemistry major, Biology minor Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin
	1970	Ph.D. Graduate Student Biochemistry Department Marquette University Milwaukee, Wisconsin Mentor: Fumito Taketa, Ph.D.
		Area: Protein chemistry Hemoglobin structure/function.
	1969-1971	Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Biochemistry Roche Institute of Molecular Biology Nutley, New Jersey Mentor: Sidney Pestka, M.D.
		Area: Protein synthesis tRNA binding to peptidyl synthetase.
	1972-1974	Fellow in Pharmacology-Morphology Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Foundation Children's Hospital Research Foundation Cincinnati, Ohio Mentor: Ernest F. Zimmerman, Ph.D.
		Area: Tissue/cell morphogenesis
	1985	Visiting Scientist Department of Structural Biology Stanford University Stanford, CA Mentor: James A. Spudich, Ph.D.
		Area: Contractile proteins

APPOINTMENTS

	1972	Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine University of Cincinnati
	1972-Present	Faculty Member Developmental Biology Graduate Program University of Cincinnati
	1973-Present	Member of the University-wide Graduate Faculty University of Cincinnati
	1974	Assistant Professor of Molecular Genetics, Biochemistry and Microbiology College of Medicine University of Cincinnati
	1979	Associate Professor of Pediatrics Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine University of Cincinnati
	1981-2002	Director CHRF Monoclonal Antibody Facility
	1988-Present	Professor of Pediatrics Department of Pediatrics College of Medicine University of Cincinnati
	1985-1989	Director of Graduate Studies Developmental Biology Graduate Program University of Cincinnati
	1989-1995	Director Developmental Biology Graduate Program University of Cincinnati
	1995-2000	Interim Director Division of Developmental Biology Children's Hospital Medical Center
	2000-Present	Associate Director Division of Developmental Biology Children's Hospital Medical Center

AWARDS AND HONORS

Bausch-Lomb Science Award, Regis High School
Finalist, National Merit Scholarship
Academic Scholarship, Marquette University
Sigma Gamma Chi (Marquette University Chemistry Honor Society)
Public Health Service, Individual Predoctoral Fellowship Grant
Postdoctoral Fellowship, Roche Institute of Molecular Biology
Pharmacology-Morphology Fellowship
(Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Foundation)
March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Award

MEMBERSHIPS IN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

American Society for Cell Biology
Society for Developmental Biology
American Association for the Advancement of Science
New York Academy of Science

SERVICE

Committee Involvement

Children's Hospital Medical Center

	1981-1991	Chairman, Hazardous Materials Committee
	1987-1990	Member, CHMC Safety Committee
	1987-1996	Member, Biohazard Safety Committee
	1994-present	Member, Trustee Grant Review Committee
	1995-2003	Director of Core Facilities, Pediatric Center for Gene Expression and Development
	1995-present	Executive Director, Pulmonary and Cardiovascular Development Training Grant (J. Whitsett, P.I.)
	1997-2000	Research Advisory Committeee
	1995-present	Internal Grant Reviewer
	1997	Vice-Chairperson, Children's Development Campaign
	1998-2001	CHMC Staff Bulletin Committee
	2002-present	HR/CHRF Laboratory Staff Hiring Committeee
	2003-2004	Chairman, CCRF Seminar Committee
	2004-present	Director, CCRF Office of Postdoctoral Affairs

University of Cincinnati

	1974-1979	Director, Dev. Biol. Seminar Program
	1977-1983	Member, Medical Sciences Committee
	1986-1987	Member Reappointments, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department of Pediatrics
	1988-1989	Chairman Reappointments, Promotion and Tenure Committee, Department of Pediatrics
	1989-1990	Member, Radiation Safety Task Force
	1990-1991	Member, Radiation Safety Committee
	1991-1992	Chairman, Radiation Safety Committee
	1995-Present	Member, Research Advisory Committee

Professional Activities

	1995-1998	Ad hoc Reviewer, Veteran's Administration Grants
	1993-1997	Member, Advisory Board, Southwest Ohio Chapter of the American Heart Association
	1995	Ad hoc member, Study section for review of K08 awards regarding heart, lung, blood development.
	1997	Ad Hoc member, Cell Physiology Review Panel, NIH
	1998	Ad Hoc member, Cell Physiology Review Panel, NIH
	1998-1999	Ad Hoc reviewer, USDA grants
	2000	Ad Hoc member, Cell Development Panel, NIH
	2001	Member, Bladder Research Review Group, NIH
	2002	Ad Hoc member, Muscle Biology Review Panel, NIH
	2001-Present	Member, American Heart Association Scientific Review Committee (Basic Cell Biology 2)

TEACHING

Academic courses, lectures, etc.

	1972-Present	Faculty mentor for eight one quarter journal club courses for developmental biology graduate students.
	1975-present	Supervisor for about 50 graduate students for one quarter each in a laboratory rotation course.
	1976-1986	Lecturer in each of the three core courses in Developmental Biology.
	1981-1986	Lecturer on hybridoma technology in a Tissue Culture course offered by the Department of Environmental Health.
	1981-1986	Course Director, Developmental Biology III, Ontogeny of Cells, Tissues and Organs.
	1984-1987	Lecturer on the Cytoskeleton, Cell Biology Course
	1989	Director, Hybridoma Antibody Technology Course/Ohio Valley Tissue Culture Association.
	1987- present	Lecturer on actin based motility in the Molecular Biology of the Cell II Course.
	1987- present	Lecturer on mesoderm development in Developmental Biology Core Course.
	2001- present	Organizer, Mesoderm component in DDevelopmental Biology Core Course.

Visiting Scientists (Preceptor)

1984

Richard Karp, Ph.D.
Professor, Department of Biology, University of Cincinnati

1989-1991

Ruth Stolz, M.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Cincinnati

Fellows (Mentor/Advisor)

	1977	Jeffrey Whitsett, M.D., Neonatology Fellow Currently, Professor of Pediatrics, Section Chief for Pulmonary Biology and Neonatology Divisions, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
	1981	David Williams, M.D., Hematology/Oncology Fellow Currently, Professor of Pediatrics, Director of Experimental Hematology Division Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
	1987-89	Kirk M. McHugh, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow Currently, Associate Professor of Pediatrics Ohio State University, Columbus, OH
	1986-89	Nancy M. Sawtell, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow Currently, Associate Professor Division of Infectious Disease Children's Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati, OH
	1989-91	Willie Ng, M.D., CHMC Cardiology Fellow Currently, Practicing Pediatrician Cincinnati, OH
	1990-94	Lisa Close, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow Currently, Associate Professor of Biology Xavier University Cincinnati, OH
	1992-96	Ajit Kumar, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Fellow Currently, Research Associate Division of Developmental Biology Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
	1996-99	Ajay Kaur, M.D., Gastroenterology Fellow Currently, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
	2001-2003	John Szucsik, Ph.D., Research Fellow Currently, Research Associate Division of Developmental Biology Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
	2001	Carol M. Choi, M.D. Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Trainee, Women’s Reproductive Health Research Scholars Program

Graduate Students (Mentor)

Student

Degree

Program

Graduation

Diane Rein

Ph.D.

Dev. Biol.

1977

Currently: Science librarian, Purdue University, Lafayette, IN.

John Szucsik

Ph.D.

Dev. Biol.

1992

Currently: Research Associate, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Research Fdn

Chester Brown

M.D./Ph.D.

Dev. Biol.

1992

Currently: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor University

Jin Qian

Ph.D.

Dev. Biol.

1997

Currently: Senior Scientist, BioAgriCorp, Walnut, CA

Zainab Abbas

M.S.

Dev. Biol.

1997

Currently: Research Assistant, BioSciences, Inc., Bethesda, MD

Graduate Students (Committee member)

Over 90 graduate student dissertation committees.

PUBLICATIONS

Taketa, F., Smits, M.R., Dibona, F.J. and Lessard, J.L. Studies on cat hemoglobin and hybrids with human hemoglobin A. Biochemistry 6:3809-3819 (1967).

Taketa, F., Smits, M.R. and Lessard, J.L. Hemoglobin heterogeneity in the cat. Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 30:219-226 (1968).

Lessard, J.L. and Taketa, F. Multiple hemoglobins in fetal, newborn and adult cats. Biochem. Biophys. Acta. 175:441-444 (1969).
Hishizawa, F., Lessard, J.L. and Pestka, S. Studies on the formation of transfer ribonucleic acid-ribosome complexes. XII. Phenylalanyloligonucleotide binding to E. coli ribosomes: necessity for a free amino group. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 66:523-530 (1970).

Pestka, S., Hishizawa, T. and Lessard, J.L. Studies on the formation of transfer ribonucleic acid-ribosome complexes. XIII. Aminoacyloligonucleotide binding to ribosomes: characteristics and requirements. J. Biol. Chem. 245:6208-6219 (1970).

Taketa, F., Mauk, A.G. and Lessard, J.L. ?-Chain amino terminal of the cat hemoglobins and the response to 2,3-diphosphoglycerate and adenosine triphosphate. J. Biol. Chem. 248:4471-4476 (1970).

Lessard, J.L. and Pestka, S. Studies on the formation of transfer ribonucleic acid-ribosome complexes. XXII. Binding aminoacyloligonucleotides to ribosomes. J. Biol. Chem. 247:6901-6908 (1972).

Lessard, J.L. and Pestka, S. Studies on the formation of transfer ribonucleic acid-ribosome complexes. XXIII. Chloroamphenicol, aminoacyloligonucleotides, and Escherichia coli ribosomes. J. Biol. Chem. 247:6909-6912 (1972).

Lessard, J.L., Wee, E. and Zimmerman, E.F. Presence of contractile proteins in mouse fetal palates prior to shelf elevation. Teratology 9:113-126 (1974).

Whitsett, J. A. and Lessard, J.L. Characteristics of the microvillus brush border of human placenta: insulin receptor localization in brush border membrane. Endocrinology 103:1458-1468 (1978).
Lessard, J.L., Rein, D., Carlton, D. and Akeson, R.A. A solid-phase assay for antiactin antibody and actin using Protein-A. Anal. Biochem. 94:140-149 (1979).

Williams, D.A., Lessard, J.L., Boxer, L.A., Rein, D. and Baehner, R.L. Metabolic and structural requirements for concanavalin A capping in phagocytic cells. Proc. Soc. Exptl. Med. Biol. 162:34-37 (1979).

Rein, D.C., Gruenstein, E. and Lessard, J.L. Synthesis of myosin and actin in differentiating neuroblastoma cells. J. Neurochem. 34:1459-1469 (1980).

Kuhn, M., Babiarz, B.S., Lessard, J.L. and Zimmerman, E.F. Palate morphogenesis: I. Immunological and ultrastructural analyses of mouse palate. Teratology 21:209-223 (1980).

Sadler, T.D., Greenberg, D., Coughlin, P. and Lessard, J.L. Actin distribution patterns in the mouse neural tube during neurulation. Science 215:172-174 (1982).

Ball, W.J., Schwartz, A. and Lessard, J.L. Isolation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies to Na+K+-ATPase. Biochem. Biophys. Acta 719:413-423 (1982).

Whitsett, J.A., Hull, W., Dion, C. and Lessard, J. c-AMP dependent actin phosphorylation in developing rat lung and type II epithelial cells. Exptl. Lung Res. 9:191-201 (1985).

Otey, C.A., Kalnoski, M.H., Lessard, J.L., and Bulinski, J.C. Immunolocalization of the gamma isoform of non-muscle actin in cultured cells. J. Cell Biol. 102:1726-1737 (1986).

Moyer, S.A., Baker, S.C. and Lessard, J.L. Tubulin: A factor necessary for the synthesis of both Sendai virus and Vesicular stomatitus virus RNAs. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., USA 83:5405-5409 (1986).

George, J.F., Karp, R.D., Rellahan, B.L. and Lessard, J.L. Alteration of the protein composition in the hemolymph of American cockroaches immunized with soluble proteins. J. Immunol. 62:505-509 (1987).

Gomez, R.A., Sturgill, B., Chevalier, R.L., Lessard, J.L., Owens, G.K. and Peach, M.J. Expression of muscle specific isoactins in multiple organs of the fetal rat. Cell and Tissue Res. 250:7-12 (1987).

Lin, Z.X., Eshleman, J., Forry-Schaudies, S., Duran, S., Lessard, J.L. and Holtzer, H. The differential effects of TPA on myofibrils and stress fibers in myotubes and replicating mononucleated cells. J. Cell Biol. 105:1365-1376 (1987).

Lessard, J.L. Two monoclonal antibodies to actin: one generally reactive and one muscle selective. Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 10:349-362 (1988).

McHugh, K.M. and Lessard, J.L. Nucleotide sequence of a rat vascular alpha-actin cDNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 16:4167 (1988).
Wang S., Greaser M.L., Schulz, E., Bulinski, J.C., Lin, J.J.C., and Lessard, J. L. Studies on cardiac myofibrillogenesis with antibodies to titin, actin, tropomyosin and myosin. J. Cell Biol. 107:1075-1083 (1988).

McHugh, K.M. and Lessard, J.L. The developmental expression of the rat alpha-vascular and gamma-enteric smooth muscle isoactins: Isolation and characterization of a rat gamma-enteric actin cDNA. Mol. Cell. Biol. 12:5224-5231 (1988).

Sawtell, N.M., Hartman, A.L. and Lessard, J.L. Expression of unique actin isoforms in rat intestinal epithelial cells. Cell Motility and the Cytoskel. 11:318-325 (1988).

Handel, S.E., Greaser, M.L., Wang, S.M., Schultz, E., Bulinski, J.C., Lin, J. J-C., and Lessard, J.L. Myofibrillogenesis in chick cardiac myocytes as studied with antibodies against muscle and nonmuscle proteins. Dev. Biol. 132:35-44 (1989).

Hartman, A.L., Sawtell, N.M., and Lessard, J.L. Differential expression of actin isoforms in developing rat intestinal epithelial cells. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 37:1225-1233 (1989).

Hijazi, Y.M., Lessard, J.L. and Weiss, M.A. Use of anti-actin and S-100 protein antibodies in differentiating benign and malignant sclerosing breast lesions. J. Surg. Path. 2:125-135 (1989).

Sawtell, N.M., Hartman, A.L. and Lessard, J.L. Cellular distribution of smooth muscle actins during mammalian embryogenesis: Expression of the ?-vascular but not the ?-enteric isoform in differentiating striated myocytes. J. Cell Biol. 109:2929-2937 (1989).

Rudnicki, M.A., Sawtell, N.M., Reuhl, K.R., Berg, R., Craig, J.C., Jardine, K., Lessard, J.L. and McBurney, M.W. Smooth muscle actin expression during embryonal carcinoma differentiation in cell culture. J. Cellular Physiol. 142:89-98 (1990).

Brown, C.W., McHugh, K.M., and Lessard, J.L. Nucleotide sequence of a rat cytoplasmic ?-actin cDNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 18:5312 (1990).

Hartman, A.L., Sawtell, N.M., and Lessard, J.L. Differential expression of actin isoforms in developing rat intestinal epithelial cells. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 37:1225-1233 (1989).

Sawtell, N.M. and Lessard, J.L. Cellular distribution of smooth muscle actins during mammalian embryogenesis: expression of the ?-vascular but not the ?-enteric isoform in differentiating striated myocytes. J. Cell Biol. 109:2929-2937 (1989).

Handel, S.E., Greaser, M.L., Wang, S.M., Schulz, E., Bulinski, J.C., Lin, J.J.-C., and Lessard, J.L. Myofibrillogenesis in chick cardiac myocytes as studied with antibodies against muscle and nonmuscle proteins. Dev. Biol. 132:35-44 (1989).

Rudnicki, M.A., Sawtell, N.M., Reuhl, K.R., Berg, R., Craig, J.C., Jardine, K., Lessard, J.L., and McBurney, M.W. Smooth muscle actin expression during embryonal carcinoma differentiation in cell culture. J. Cell. Physiol. 142:89-90 (1990).

Sawtell, N.M., Lessard, J.L., and Hartman, A.L. Conserved tissue-restricted expression of HUC 1-1 actin phenotype among eumetazoan organism. J. Exptl. Zool. 256:54-62 (1990).

Brown, C.W., McHugh, K.M., and Lessard, J.L. A cDNA sequence encoding cytoskeletal gamma-actin from rat. Nucleic Acid Res. 18:5312 (1990).

Goldberg, M. Feinberg, J., Lecole, S., Kaetzel, M.A., Rainteau, D., Lessard, J.L., Dedman, J.R. and Weinman, S. Co-distribution of annexin and actin in secretory ameloblasts and odontoblasts of rat incisor. Cell and Tissue Research 263:81-89 (1991).

McHugh, K.M., Crawford, K., and Lessard, J.L. A comprehensive analysis of the developmental and tissue-specific expression of the isoactin gene family in the rat. Dev. Biol. 148:442-458 (1991).

Schrader, M., Temm-Grove, C.J., Lessard, J.L. and Jockusch, B.M. Chicken antibodies to rabbit muscle actin with a restricted repertoire of F-actin recognition. Eur. J. Cell Biol. 63: 3226-335 (1994).

Szucsik, J. and Lessard, J.L. The complete nucleotide sequence of the murine smooth muscle ?-actin gene. Genomics 28:154-162 (1995)

Qian, J., Kumar, A., Szucsik, J.C., and Lessard, J.L. Tissue and developmental specific expression of murine smooth muscle ?-actin fusion genes in transgenic mice. Dev. Dynamics 207:135-144 (1996).

Ng, W.A., Doetschman, T., Robbins, J., and Lessard, J.L. Muscle isoactin expression during in vitro differentiation of murine embryonic stem cells. Ped. Res. 41:285-292 (1997)

Qian, J., Hendrix., M., Larsen, W.J., Dorn II, G.W., and Lessard, J.L. Establishment and characterization of a conditionally immortalized smooth muscle/myometrial-like cell line. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 47:284-294 (1997).

Davidge, S.T., Close, L., Lessard, J.L., and McLaughlin, M.K. Pregnancy-induced elevation in aortic vascular smooth muscle actin in the Sprague-Dawley rat. Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 176:212-213 (1997).

Kumar, A., Crawford, K., Close, L., Madison, M., Abbas, Z., Doetschman, T., Pawloski, S., Duffy, J., Robbins, J., Neumann, J., Boivin, G., O'Toole, B., and Lessard, J. Rescue of cardiac ?-actin deficient mice by enteric smooth muscle ?-actin. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94: 4406-4411 (1997).

Crawford, K., R. Flick, L. Close, D. Shelly, R. Paul, K. Bove, A. Kumar and J. Lessard. “Mice lacking skeletal muscle actin show reduced muscle strength and growth deficits and die during the neonatal period.” Mol Cell Biol 22(16): 5887-96 (2002).

Martin, A. F., R. M. Phillips, A. Kumar, K. Crawford, Z. Abbas, J. L. Lessard, P. de Tombe and R. J. Solaro. “Ca(2+) activation and tension cost in myofilaments from mouse hearts ectopically expressing enteric gamma-actin.” Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 283(2): H642-9 (2002).

Vrhovszki, B., Schevzov, G., Dingle, S., Lessard, J.L., Gunning, P., and Weinberger, R.P. Tropomyosin isoforms from the gamma gene differing at the C-terminus are spatially and developmentally regulated in the brain. J. Neurosci. Res. 72(3):373-83 (2003).

Abdewahid, E., Pelliniemi, L.J., Szucsik, J.C., Lessard, J.L., and Eero, J. Cellular disorganization and extensive apoptosis in the heart of mice lacking cardiac muscle a-actin: Apparent cause of perinatal death. Ped. Res. 55:1-8 (2003).

Szucsik, J.C., Lewis, A.G., Marmer, D. and Lessard, J.L. Urogenital Tract Expression of Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) in Transgenic Mice Driven by a Smooth Muscle Gamma-Actin Promoter. J. Urol. 171(2):944-949 (2004).

Kumar, A., Crawford, K., Flick, R., Klevitsky, R., Lorenz, J.N., Bove, K.E., Robbins, J and Lessard, J.L. Transgenic overexpression of cardiac actin in the mouse heart suggests coregulation of cardiac, skeletal and vascular actin expression. Transgenic Res. 13: 531-540 (2004)

Wilma A. Hofmann, Ljuba Stojiljkovic, Beata Fuchsova, Gabriela M. Vargas, Evangelos Mavrommatis, Vlada Philimonenko, Katarina Kysela, James A. Goodrich, James L. Lessard, Thomas J. Hope, Pavel Hozak and Primal de Lanerolle. Actin is part of pre-initiation complexes and required for transcription by RNA polymerase II. Nature Cell Biol 6:1094-1102 (2004).

CHAPTERS, INVITED PAPERS

Lessard, J.L. Hybridoma antibodies: new tools for old problems. In: Nonisotopic Alternatives to Radioimmunoassay. eds., L. Kaplan and A. Pesce, Marcell Dekker, NY, 1981.

Sawtell, N.M., Hartman, A.L., Szucsik, J.C., and Lessard, J.L. Immunochemical studies of isoactin expression in intestinal epithelial and cultured muscle cells. UCLA Symposium on the Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Muscle Development. L. Kedes and F. Stockdale, eds., Alan R. Liss, New York (1988) pp 147-156.

McHugh, K.M., Brown, C.W., and Lessard, J.L. A molecular analysis of the rat stomach alpha-vascular, gamma-enteric, and gamma-cytoplasmic isoactins. UCLA Symposium on the Molecular and Cellular Aspects of Muscle Development. L. Kedes and F. Stockdale, eds., Alan R. Liss, New York (1988) pp 157-168.

Greaser, M.L., Handel, S.E., Wang, W-M., Schulz, E., Bulinski, J.C., Lin, J. J-C., and Lessard, J.L. Assembly of titin, myosin, actin, and tropomyosin into myofibrils in cultured chick cardiomyocytes, UCLA Symposium on Molecular and Cellular Biology, Vol. 93, L. Kedes and F. Stockdale, eds., Alan R. Liss, New York (1988)
pp 247-258.

GRANTS AND FELLOWSHIPS

	1972-1974	Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association Foundation. Fellowship in Pharmacology Morphology.
	1974-1977	National Foundation - March of Dimes Basil O'Connor Starter Research Grant. Cell Movements and the Developing Nervous System.
	1977-1981	National Foundation - March of Dimes for Birth Defects Basic Research Grant. Contractile Proteins and Cellular Motility.
	1977	Ohio Branch of the American Cancer Society. Prolonged Growth of Human Neuroblastoma in Culture.
	1979-1981	Muscular Dystrophy Association. Monoclonal Antibodies to Muscle and Nonmuscle Actins.
	1979-1982	NIH. PO1-HD. Program Project Grant. Molecular Aspects of Neural Related Birth Defects . E.F. Zimmerman, P.I., Component 3, Project Leader, J.L. Lessard, Alterations in Cell Motility in Neural Birth Defects.
	1982-1983	American Heart Association (Ohio Affiliate). Serum Cardiac Actin Levels in Myocardial Infarction.
	1981-1988	NIH. RO1-HD. Immunocytochemical Probes for Isoactins.
	1982-1985	NIH. RO1-HD. Neural Tube Birth Defects: Factors Responsible T. Sadler, P.I., J.L. Lessard, CoPI.
	1986-1990	NIH. R01-AR. Immunochemical Approach to Actin Structure and Function.
	1987-1989	American Heart Association (Ohio Affiliate). Molecular genetics of human smooth muscle actins. (Kirk McHugh - P.I., J.L. Lessard, Co.I.).
	1989-1990	American Heart Association (Ohio Affiliate). Isoactin expression in the cardiovascular system.
	1990-1992	American Heart Association (Ohio Affiliate). Targeting the ?-Vascular Actin Gene in Murine Embryonic Stem Cells. .
	1993-1995	NIH. R01-HD. NCAM-like Protein Structural and Functional Diversity. (JLL Assumed P.I. upon the death of R. Akeson)
	1991-1996	NIH. P01-HL Program Project Grant:Development and Differentiation during Cardiogenesis, Component 3: Targeted Ablation and Alteration of Murine Cardiac Actin. P.I. Jeff Robbins; Component 3, Project Leader, J.L. Lessard
	1994-1997	NIH. R01-HD. Regulation of Porcine Granulosa Cell FSH Receptor. (A. LaBarbara, P.I., J.L. Lessard, Co.I.)
	1996-2001	NIH P50 HL56387 SCOR in pathobiology of lung development. P.I. Jeff Whitsett, Component 5 Smooth muscle development in the lung. J.L. Lessard
	2000-2002	NIH 1R21-DK57046. Transgenic remodeling of visceral smooth muscle.
	2000-2002	NIH Approaches to Urogenital Smooth Muscle Development

Current Support (Direct costs)

	1997-2005	NIH. R01-HL57291. Targeted alteration of actin in the heart. ($2,167,766)
	2002-2005	MDA Actin based skeletal muscle myopathy ($150,000)
	2002-2006	NIH RO1 DK61219 Hlx in Enteric Mesenchymal and Neuronal Development ($600,000) (PI M. Bates)
	2005-2010	NIH UO1 DK070219. Mouse atlas of genitourinary smooth muscle development. ($1,804,777)

Current Institution Related Grants:

1996-2009

NIH T32 HL007752 Training Grant in Pulmonary and Cardiovascular
Development, J. Whitsett, PI, J. Lessard, Executive Director and author

2002-2007

Authored a successful Ohio Eminent Scholar Award from the Ohio Board of Regents to support Dr. Masato Nakafuku.

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