Stanford Cancer Institute


Showing 301-350 of 513 Results

  • Bingwei Lu

    Bingwei Lu

    Professor of Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe are interested in understanding how neural stem cells balance their self-renewal and differentiation and how deregulation of this process can result in brain tumor. We are also interested in mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. We are using both Drosophila and mammalian models to address these fundamental questions.

  • Lu,Guolan

    Lu,Guolan

    Assistant Professor of Urology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Lu Lab develops and integrates AI, spatial multi-omics, and advanced imaging to understand and model how cells, tissues, and therapeutic agents interact in their native spatial context, and how these interactions drive disease progression and treatment response.

  • Sydney X. Lu

    Sydney X. Lu

    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Hematology)

    BioSydney Lu is an assistant professor and physician-scientist in the Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine with a broad interest in both normal and abnormal RNA processing in the context of normal physiology and disease states. The laboratory studies translational questions regarding the mechanistic basis of RNA processing abnormalities in malignant blood disorders, their implications for leukemogenesis and cancer biology, as well as resultant therapeutic opportunities.

    As a physician, Sydney’s group is particularly focused on dissecting RNA processing abnormalities in primary patient samples and disease-relevant preclinical model systems. Lab members employ a variety of ‘wet-lab’ and computational approaches to study transcriptome abnormalities in (1) states of immune dysfunction, (2) myeloid blood cancers such as myelodysplastic syndromes and acute myeloid leukemia, and (3) lymphoid blood cancers such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Additional projects are focused on novel therapeutics, including multiple targeted agents which modulate RNA processing, for the selective treatment of these diseases.

    Sydney’s research is/has been supposed by grant funding from the National Cancer Institute, Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Aplastic Anemia & Myelodysplastic Syndromes International Foundation, the American Society for Clinical Oncology, the American Society of Hematology, the American Association for Cancer Research, the Paula and Rodger Riney Foundation, the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation, The Gabrielles Angel Foundation for Cancer Research, and the Stanford Cancer Institute.

  • Ying Lu

    Ying Lu

    Professor of Biomedical Data Science and, by courtesy, of Epidemiology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsBiostatistics, clinical trials, statistical evaluation of medical diagnostic tests, radiology, osteoporosis, meta-analysis, medical decision making

  • Natalie Shaubie Lui

    Natalie Shaubie Lui

    Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery (Thoracic Surgery)

    BioDr. Lui studied physics as an undergraduate at Harvard before attending medical school at Johns Hopkins. She completed a general surgery residency at the University of California San Francisco, which included two years of research in the UCSF Thoracic Oncology Laboratory and completion of a Master in Advanced Studies in clinical research. Dr. Lui went on to hold a fellowship in Thoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital, during which she participated in visiting rotations at Memorial Sloan Kettering and the Mayo Clinic.

    Dr. Lui’s surgical practice consists of general thoracic surgery with a focus on thoracic oncology and robotic thoracic surgery. Her research interests include intraoperative molecular imaging for lung cancer localization, increasing rates of lung cancer screening, and using artificial intelligence to predict lung cancer recurrence. She is the recipient of the Donald B. Doty Educational Award in 2019 from the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, the Dwight C. McGoon Award for teaching from the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association in 2020, and the Carolyn E. Reed Traveling Fellowship from the Thoracic Surgery Foundation and Women in Thoracic Surgery in 2022.

  • Matthew Lungren

    Matthew Lungren

    Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Data Science

    BioDr. Matthew Lungren is a physician-scientist and AI leader whose work has helped shape modern multimodal healthcare AI from early research through large-scale deployment. He joined Stanford University in 2014 as clinical research faculty, where he led a fully dedicated pediatric interventional radiology clinical service and established an NIH- and industry-supported clinical AI research program that helped catalyze what became the Stanford Center for AI in Medicine & Imaging. He remains an Adjunct Professor of Biomedical Data Science at Stanford and also holds a part-time clinical appointment at UCSF.

    Dr. Lungren has authored more than 200 peer-reviewed publications with more than 35,000 citations, and he has taught more than 100,000 learners through AI-in-healthcare courses across platforms including Coursera and LinkedIn Learning. His broader contributions include advancing multimodal imaging-plus-EHR approaches, open-sourcing AI-ready medical imaging datasets and models, and serving in national leadership roles across the radiology AI community. After a sabbatical in 2021, he transitioned from academia to industry and joined Microsoft, where he served in senior leadership roles including Chief Scientific Officer for Microsoft Health & Life Sciences. At Microsoft, he founded and led cross-company teams that shipped multimodal healthcare foundation models and agentic, auditable generative AI workflows into production, including healthcare agent orchestration capabilities and major EHR partnerships, and led the health and life sciences partnerships with OpenAI.

    Dr. Lungren is also a top rated instructor leading AI in Healthcare courses designed especially for learners with non-technical backgrounds:
    Stanford/Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/learn/fundamental-machine-learning-healthcare
    LinkedIn Learning: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/an-introduction-to-how-generative-ai-will-transform-healthcare

  • Liqun Luo

    Liqun Luo

    Ann and Bill Swindells Professor and Professor, by courtesy, of Neurobiology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe study how neurons are organized into specialized circuits to perform specific functions and how these circuits are assembled during development. We have developed molecular-genetic and viral tools, and are combining them with transcriptomic, proteomic, physiological, and behavioral approaches to study these problems. Topics include: 1) assembly of the fly olfactory circuit; 2) assembly of neural circuits in the mouse brain; 3) organization and function of neural circuits; 4) Tool development.

  • Crystal Mackall

    Crystal Mackall

    Ernest and Amelia Gallo Family Professor and Professor of Pediatrics and of Medicine

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsRecent clinical studies, by us and others, have demonstrated that genetically engineered T cells can eradicate cancers resistant to all other therapies. We are identifying new targets for these therapeutics, exploring pathways of resistance to current cell therapies and creating next generation platforms to overcome therapeutic resistance. We have discovered novel insights into the biology of human T cell exhaustion and developed approaches to prevent and reverse this phenomenon.

  • Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D.

    Sean Mackey, M.D., Ph.D.

    Redlich Professor, Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine (Adult Pain) and, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMultiple NIH funded projects to characterize CNS mechanisms of human pain. Comparative effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy and chronic pain self-management within the context of opioid reduction (PCORI funded). Single session pain catastrophizing treatment: comparative efficacy & mechanisms (NIH R01). Development and implementation of an open-source learning healthcare system, CHOIR (http://choir/stanford.edu), to optimize pain care and innovative research in real-world patients.

  • Holden Maecker

    Holden Maecker

    Professor (Research) of Microbiology and Immunology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI'm interested in immune monitoring of T cell responses to chronic pathogens and cancer, and the correlation of T cell response signatures with disease protection.

  • Ravi Majeti MD, PhD

    Ravi Majeti MD, PhD

    Director, Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Virginia and D. K. Ludwig Professor and Professor of Medicine (Hematology/Stem Cell Institute)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Majeti lab focuses on the molecular/genomic characterization and therapeutic targeting of leukemia stem cells in human hematologic malignancies, particularly acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our lab uses experimental hematology methods, stem cell assays, genome editing, and bioinformatics to define and investigate drivers of leukemia stem cell behavior. As part of these studies, we have led the development and application of robust xenotransplantation assays for human hematopoietic cells.

  • Parag Mallick

    Parag Mallick

    Associate Professor (Research) of Radiology (Diagnostic Sciences Laboratory)
    On Partial Leave from 04/01/2026 To 08/01/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Mallick Lab is focused on using integrative, multi-omic approaches to model the processes that govern cellular dynamics and to use those models to discover cancer biomarkers and molecular mechanisms.

  • Gabriel Mannis

    Gabriel Mannis

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Hematology)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research focuses on the development of more effective, less toxic therapies for patients with AML and other high-risk hematologic malignancies. We study biologic correlates that predict response to therapy as well as factors/interventions that improve quality-of-life for patients struggling with blood-borne cancers.

  • M. Peter Marinkovich, MD

    M. Peter Marinkovich, MD

    Associate Professor of Dermatology
    On Leave from 05/01/2025 To 04/30/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Marinkovich lab studies the function of epithelial extracellular matrix molecules, including integrins, collagens and laminins in epithelial development and carcinoma progression. We apply our discoveries in this area towards development of molecular therapies for carcinomas, hair disease and inherited epithelial adhesive disorders.

  • Nicole M. Martinez

    Nicole M. Martinez

    Assistant Professor of Chemical and Systems Biology and of Developmental Biology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Martinez lab studies RNA regulatory mechanisms that control gene expression. We focus on mRNA processing, RNA modifications and their roles in development and disease.

  • Olivia Martinez

    Olivia Martinez

    Johnson and Johnson Professor of Surgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsHost-Pathogen interactions; EBV B cell lymphomas; pathways of immune evasion in the growth and survival of EBV B cell lymphomas; mechanisms of graft rejection and tolerance induction; stem cell and solid organ transplantation.

  • Tarik F. Massoud, MD, PhD

    Tarik F. Massoud, MD, PhD

    Professor of Radiology (Neuroimaging and Neurointervention)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy current interests are in molecular and translational imaging of the brain especially in neuro-oncology and cerebrovascular diseases, experimental aspects of neuroimaging, clinical neuroradiology, neuroradiological anatomy, and research education and academic training of radiologists and scientists.

  • AC Matin

    AC Matin

    Member, Cardiovascular Institute

    Current Research and Scholarly Interests1. Improvement of our newly discovered cancer prodrug regimen that permits noninvaisve visualization of drug activation. 2. Tracking tumors & cancer metastases using bacterial magnetite and newly developed single-cell tracking by MRI. 3. Molecular basis of bacterial planktonic and biofilm antibiotic resistance on Earth and under space microgravity -- development of new countermeasures; 4. Bioremediation.

  • Uchechukwu Megwalu, MD, MPH

    Uchechukwu Megwalu, MD, MPH

    Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOutcomes Research
    Health Disparities
    Comparative Effectiveness Research
    Health Literacy
    Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology
    SEER database analysis

  • Everett Meyer

    Everett Meyer

    Associate Professor of Medicine (Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy), of Pediatrics (Stem Cell Transplantation) and, by courtesy, of Surgery (Abdominal Transplantation)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsResearch focus in T cell immunotherapy and T cell immune monitoring using high-throughput sequencing and genomic approaches, with an emphasis on hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, the treatment of graft-versus-host disease and immune tolerance induction.

  • David Miklos

    David Miklos

    James and Katherine Lau Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Miklos is the Chief of BMT & Cell Therapy Program. He leads clinical trials treating patients with lymphoma. His correlative research studies: 1) tumor antigen quantification, 2) single cell functional product characterization, 3) CAR-FACS immune phenotyping of blood and tumor, and identifying mechanisms for CAR-T treatment Failure including antigen loss, CAR-T exhaustion, and CAR suppression.

  • Lloyd B. Minor, MD

    Lloyd B. Minor, MD

    The Carl and Elizabeth Naumann Dean of the School of Medicine, Vice President for Medical Affairs, Stanford University, Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery and Professor of Neurobiology and of Bioengineering, by courtesy

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThrough neurophysiological investigations of eye movements and neuronal pathways, Dr. Minor has identified adaptive mechanisms responsible for compensation to vestibular injury in a model system for studies of motor learning. Following his discovery of superior canal dehiscence, he published a description of the disorder’s clinical manifestations and related its cause to an opening in the bone covering of the superior canal. He subsequently developed a surgical procedure to correct the problem.

  • Paul Salomon Mischel

    Paul Salomon Mischel

    Fortinet Founders Professor and Professor, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research bridges cancer genetics, signal transduction and cellular metabolism as we aim to understand the molecular mechanisms that drive cancer development, progression, and drug resistance. We have made a series of discoveries that have identified a central role for ecDNA (extrachromosomal DNA) in cancer development, progression, accelerated tumor evolution and drug resistance.

  • Beverly S. Mitchell, M.D.

    Beverly S. Mitchell, M.D.

    George E. Becker Professor of Medicine, Emerita

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsBeverly Mitchell's research relates to the development of new therapies for hematologic malignancies, including leukemias and myelodsyplastic syndromes. She is interested in preclinical proof of principle studies on mechanisms inducing cell death and on metabolic targets involving nucleic acid biosynthesis in malignant cells. She is also interested in the translation of these studies into clinical trials.

  • Daria Mochly-Rosen

    Daria Mochly-Rosen

    George D. Smith Professor of Translational Medicine

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsTwo areas: 1. Using rationally-designed peptide inhibitors to study protein-protein interactions in cell signaling. Focus: protein kinase C in heart and large GTPases regulating mitochondrial dynamics in neurodegdenration. 2. Using small molecules (identified in a high throughput screens and synthetic chemistry) as activators and inhibitors of aldehyde dehydrogenases, a family of detoxifying enzymes, and glucose-6-phoshate dehydrogenase, in normal cells and in models of human diseases.

  • Everett J. Moding, MD, PhD

    Everett J. Moding, MD, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology (Radiation Therapy)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy laboratory performs translational research using analysis of human samples to identify critical mediators of treatment resistance that can be validated in preclinical models and targeted to enhance the efficacy of cancer therapy.

  • Michelle Monje

    Michelle Monje

    Milan Gambhir Professor of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology and Professor, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery, of Pediatrics, of Pathology and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Monje Lab studies the molecular and cellular mechanisms of postnatal neurodevelopment. This includes microenvironmental influences on neural precursor cell fate choice in normal neurodevelopment and in disease states.

  • Arden Morris, MD, MPH, FACS

    Arden Morris, MD, MPH, FACS

    Robert L. and Mary Ellenburg Professor of Surgery, and Professor, by courtesy, of Health Policy

    BioArden M. Morris, MD, MPH is Vice-Chair for Clinical Research, the Robert L. and Mary Ellenburg Professor of Surgery, and by courtesy Professor of Health Policy at the Stanford School of Medicine. She is Director of the S-SPIRE Center, a health services research collaborative to study patient-centered care, clinical optimization, and health care economics. In her own work, Dr. Morris uses quantitative, qualitative, and mixed research methods to focus on quality of and equity in cancer care. To that end, she currently is funded by American Cancer Society and NIH to study access to care, clinical outcomes, and policy related to insurance design. Dr. Morris currently serves on the American Joint Commission on Cancer, the NIH Special Emphasis Panel “Topics in Health Services Research: Big Data, Health Information Technology, and Clinical Informatics,” and as Associate Editor for Surgery at JAMA Network Open.

  • Ashby Morrison

    Ashby Morrison

    Professor of Biology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur research interests are to elucidate the contribution of chromatin to mechanisms that promote genomic integrity.

  • Michael Moseley

    Michael Moseley

    Professor of Radiology (Radiological Sciences Lab)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMR physics into tissue contrast mechanisms such as diffusion, perfusion, and functional imaging describes the research direction. Applications of cerebral stroke (brain attacks) and neurocognitive disorders are also being developed from these methods

  • Prithvi Mruthyunjaya, MD, MHS

    Prithvi Mruthyunjaya, MD, MHS

    Alan Adler Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor, by courtesy, of Radiation Oncology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr Mruthyunjaya has maintained a broad research interest with publications in both ocular oncology and retinal diseases.
    His focus is on multi-modal imaging of ocular tumors and understanding imaging clues that may predict vision loss after ocular radiation therapy. He coordinates multi-center research on the role of genetic testing and outcomes of treatments of ocular melanoma.
    In the field of retinal diseases, his interests are in intra-operative imaging to enhance surgical accuracy.

  • Lori Muffly

    Lori Muffly

    Professor of Medicine (Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Muffly's interests include investigator initiated clinical trials focused on cellular therapies for adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia. She also has an active health outcomes research program focused on patterns of care and improving access to care for adults with acute leukemia.

  • Ann Mullally

    Ann Mullally

    George E. Becker Professor in Medicine

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Ann Mullally's aboratory studies the genetics, biology and therapy of myeloid blood cancers, with a focus on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). Using primary human samples, mouse models, genomics, single-cell sequencing and CRISPR, as well as cellular and molecular biology, the lab has investigated the key genetic events underlying MPN pathogenesis. Dr. Mullally’s lab elucidated the mechanism by which mutant calreticulin (CALR) is oncogenic and causes MPN.

  • Seema Nagpal, MD

    Seema Nagpal, MD

    Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology
    Clinical Professor (By courtesy), Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI'm a board certified neuro-oncologist who treats both primary brain tumors as well as metastatic disease to the brain and nervous system. My research concentrates on clinical trials for patients with late-stage central nervous system cancer. I have a special interest in leptomeningeal disease, a devastating complication of lung and breast cancers. I collaborate with Stanford scientists to detect this disease earlier, and with our breast and lung oncologists to improve outcomes for patients.

  • Hiromitsu (Hiro) Nakauchi

    Hiromitsu (Hiro) Nakauchi

    Professor of Genetics (Stem Cell)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsTranslation of discoveries in basic research into practical medical applications

  • Sandy Napel

    Sandy Napel

    Professor of Radiology (Integrative Biomedical Imaging Informatics), Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research seeks to advance the clinical and basic sciences in radiology, while improving our understanding of biology and the manifestations of disease, by pioneering methods in the information sciences that integrate imaging, clinical and molecular data. A current focus is on content-based radiological image retrieval and integration of imaging features with clinical and molecular data for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapy planning decision support.

  • Yasodha Natkunam, M.D., Ph.D

    Yasodha Natkunam, M.D., Ph.D

    Ronald F. Dorfman, MBBch, FRCPath Professor of Hematopathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research interests focus on the identification and characterization of markers of diagnostic and prognostic importance in hematolymphoid neoplasia.

  • Joel Neal, MD, PhD

    Joel Neal, MD, PhD

    Professor of Medicine (Oncology)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am a thoracic oncologist who cares for patients with non-small cell lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and other thoracic malignancies. I design and conduct clinical trials of novel therapies in collaboration with other researchers and pharmaceutical companies. These generally focus on two areas, 1) targeted therapies against particular mutations in cancers (for example EGFR, ALK, ROS1, HER2, KRAS, MET, and others) and 2) the emerging field of immunotherapy in cancer, using anti PD-1/PD-L1 therapies in combination with other agents, and also developing cellular therapies. I also collaborate with other researchers on campus to apply emerging technologies to cancer therapy, for example, circulating tumor DNA detection. Additionally, in my role as the Cancer Center IT Medical Director, I coordinate projects relating to our use of the electronic health record to improve provider efficiency and facilitate patient care.

  • Robert Negrin

    Robert Negrin

    Professor of Medicine (Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur labaratory focuses on the study of immune recognition by T and NK cells with special emphasis on graft vs host disease and graft vs tumor reactions. We utilize both murine and human systems in an effort to enhance graft vs tumor reactions while controlling graft vs host disease. We have developed bioluminescence models in collaboration with the Contag laboratory to study the trafficking of immune effector cells with a special emphasis on NK, T and regulatory T cells.

  • Aaron Newman

    Aaron Newman

    Associate Professor of Biomedical Data Science

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur group develops computational strategies to study the phenotypic diversity, differentiation hierarchies, and clinical significance of tumor cell subsets and their surrounding microenvironments. Key results are further explored experimentally, both in our lab and through collaboration, with the ultimate goal of translating promising findings into the clinic.

  • Mindie H. Nguyen, MD, MAS, AGAF, FAASLD

    Mindie H. Nguyen, MD, MAS, AGAF, FAASLD

    Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hepatology) and, by courtesy, of Epidemiology and Population Health

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe conduct clinical trials and epidemiological, translational, and real-world studies of liver cancer, fatty liver (NASH, NAFLD), viral hepatitis B and C, liver cirrhosis, and liver transplant. We focus on risk identification for disease prevention and treatment for improvement of survival. We focus on sex, racial/ethnic, and socioeconomic disparities. We specialize in clinical trials, large international real-world consortium registry data, and large public/semi-public databases.

  • Dwight Nishimura

    Dwight Nishimura

    Addie and Al Macovski Professor, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly Interestsmedical imaging, magnetic resonance imaging

  • Garry Nolan

    Garry Nolan

    Rachford and Carlota Harris Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Nolan's group uses high throughput single cell analysis technology cellular biochemistry to study autoimmunity, cancer, virology (influenza & Ebola), as well as understanding normal immune system function. Using advanced flow cytometric techniques such as Mass Cytometry, MIBI (ion beam imaging), CODEX and computational biology approaches, we focus on understanding disease processes at the single cell level. We have a strong interest in cancer immunotherapy and pathogen-host interactions.

  • Jeffrey Norton, MD

    Jeffrey Norton, MD

    Robert L. and Mary Ellenburg Professor of Surgery, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsInterleukin-12 is a Th1 cytokine. It is important in the cell mediated immune response. We are investigating its role as an anti-tumor cytokine to augment the immune response against cancer. We are planning a human trial.

  • Roeland Nusse

    Roeland Nusse

    Virginia and Daniel K. Ludwig Professor of Cancer Research

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory studies Wnt signaling in development and disease. We found recently that Wnt proteins are unusual growth factors, because they are lipid-modified. We discovered that Wnt proteins promote the proliferation of stem cells of various origins. Current work is directed at understanding how Wnt signals lead to the proliferation of stem cells and on understanding Wnt signaling during repair and regeneration after tissue injury.

  • Lucy Erin O'Brien

    Lucy Erin O'Brien

    Associate Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMany adult organs tune their functional capacity to variable levels of physiologic demand. Adaptive organ resizing breaks the allometry of the body plan that was established during development, suggesting that it occurs through different mechanisms. Emerging evidence points to stem cells as key players in these mechanisms. We use the Drosophila midgut, a stem-cell based organ analogous to the vertebrate small intestine, as a simple model to uncover the rules that govern adaptive remodeling.

  • Derick Okwan

    Derick Okwan

    Assistant Professor of Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsBroadly, the Okwan lab’s primary interest is to understand how and why the immune system contributes to nearly all chronic diseases. The immune system of the modern human has evolved from a history of stress to the species: famines, continual bouts of lethal pandemics, as well as major climate/environmental and migratory changes that exposed the immune system to novel threats. At the forefront of these challenges are innate immune cells, particularly neutrophils, the most abundant leukocytes. For the first time in human history – at least in the western world- we live in an era of abundance. The Okwan lab is interested in understanding how this traumatic history creates a functional mismatch for the neutrophil, which we believe underpins their roles in chronic diseases of the modern era: cancer, cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and autoimmune disorders. Rather than wholesale depletion of neutrophils and innate immune cells, we seek to identify novel approaches to leverage these cells to combat various diseases.

  • Anthony Oro, MD, PhD

    Anthony Oro, MD, PhD

    Eugene and Gloria Bauer Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur lab uses the skin to answer questions about epithelial stem cell biology, differentiation and carcinogenesis using genomics, genetics, and cell biological techniques. We have studied how hedgehog signaling regulates regeneration and skin cancer, and how tumors evolve to develop resistance. We study the mechanisms of early human skin development using human embryonic stem cells. These fundamentals studies provide a greater understanding of epithelial biology and novel disease therapeutics.

  • Doug Owens

    Doug Owens

    Henry J. Kaiser, Jr. Professor, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and Professor, by courtesy, of Management Science and Engineering

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research uses decision modeling, cost-effectiveness analysis, and meta-analysis to evaluate clinical and health policy problems. Much of my work involves development of national guidelines for prevention and treatment.