School of Medicine


Showing 1-20 of 93 Results

  • Rodney U. Anderson, MD FACS

    Rodney U. Anderson, MD FACS

    Professor (Clinical) of Urology, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsClinical Medical Research devoted to tertiary level application of treatment modalities for neurologic and functional disturbances of the genitourinary tract. Problems such as urinary incontinence, urinary retention, urinary flow dysfunction (BPH), impotence, and chronic pelvic pain syndromes are addressed. New medical devices and technology for treating these disorders are investigated

  • Lay Teng Ang

    Lay Teng Ang

    Assistant Professor of Urology

    BioAs a stem cell biologist, I aim to understand the mechanisms through which stem cells differentiate into progressively specialized cell types and to harness this knowledge to artificially generate pure populations of desired cell types from stem cells. My work over the past ten years has centered on pluripotent stem cells (PSCs, which include embryonic and pluripotent stem cells), which can generate any of the hundreds of diverse cell types in the body. However, it has been notoriously challenging to guide PSCs to differentiate into a pure population of a given cell type. Current differentiation strategies typically generate heterogeneous cell populations unsuitable for basic research or clinical applications. To address this challenge, I mapped the cascade of branching lineage choices through which PSCs differentiate into various endodermal and mesodermal cell types. I then developed effective methods to differentiate PSCs into specific lineages by providing the extracellular signal(s) that specify a given lineage while inhibiting the signals that induce the alternate fate(s), enabling the generation of highly-pure human heart and bone (Loh & Chen et al., 2016; Cell) and liver (Loh & Ang et al., 2014; Cell Stem Cell) from PSCs. My laboratory currently focuses on differentiating human PSCs into liver progenitors (Ang et al., 2018; Cell Reports) and blood vessel cells (Ang et al., 2022; Cell).

    I earned my Ph.D. jointly from the University of Cambridge and A*STAR and was subsequently appointed as a Research Fellow and, later, a Senior Research Fellow at the Genome Institute of Singapore. I then moved my laboratory to Stanford University as a Siebel Investigator and Instructor at the Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology & Regenerative Medicine. My laboratory has been supported by the Siebel Investigatorship, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and other sources.

  • Philip Beachy

    Philip Beachy

    The Ernest and Amelia Gallo Professor, Professor of Urology, of Developmental Biology and, by courtesy, of Chemical and Systems Biology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsFunction of Hedgehog proteins and other extracellular signals in morphogenesis (pattern formation), in injury repair and regeneration (pattern maintenance). We study how the distribution of such signals is regulated in tissues, how cells perceive and respond to distinct concentrations of signals, and how such signaling pathways arose in evolution. We also study the normal roles of such signals in stem-cell physiology and their abnormal roles in the formation and expansion of cancer stem cells.

  • Ruth Belay, MD

    Ruth Belay, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology

    BioDr. Belay is a fellowship-trained urologic oncologist with the Stanford Health Care Urologic Cancer Program. She is also a clinical instructor in the Department of Urology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

    Dr. Belay specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the urinary tract, including kidney cancer, enlarged prostate, ureteral stones, and blood in the urine. She also treats all types of genitourinary cancers. She is skilled in the use of multiple imaging and treatment modalities, including cystoscopy, endourology, laparoscopy, laser therapy and surgery, ultrasound, urodynamic testing, ureteroscopy, and robotic surgery. Dr. Belay works closely with her patients to provide a comprehensive evaluation and care plan.

    Her research interests include pain control during robot-assisted prostatectomy (prostate removal) and determining the best types of guidewires for bypassing stones in the ureter. She has also studied the effects of caffeine on postmenopausal women with overactive bladder symptoms

    Dr. Belay is involved with the Stanford Medicine Center for Improvement, the goal of which is to inspire and accelerate the delivery of consistent, excellent care across Stanford Medicine. She is also passionate about sharing her knowledge of urology with medical students, having taught and mentored several residents and post-doctoral fellows.

    Dr. Belay’s research has appeared in several peer-reviewed journals, including Urology Practice, Journal of Endourology, and Journal of Women’s Health. She has presented her work both nationally and internationally at meetings and conferences of professional organizations including the American Urological Association (AUA); Society of Urodynamics, Female Pelvic Medicine & Urogenital Reconstruction; and World Congress of Endourology.

    Dr. Belay is a member of the AUA and Society of Urologic Oncology.

  • James D. Brooks

    James D. Brooks

    Keith and Jan Hurlbut Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe use genomic approaches to identify disease biomarkers. We are most interested in translating biomarkers into clinical practice in urological diseases with a particular focus in cancer.

  • Timothy C. Chang

    Timothy C. Chang

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology

    BioDr. Timothy Chang is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Urology at Stanford University. He graduated with High Honors from Princeton University and received a Master of Science from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He then obtained his medical degree and urology residency training from Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Chang has experience in a broad range of adult general urologic care, with a particular focus on kidney stone treatment for which he completed specialized fellowship training at Stanford. He received multiple research awards and authored or co-authored numerous academic publications. With his experience in both the engineering and medical fields, he has particular interest in developing technological medical advancements.

  • Bertha Chen, MD

    Bertha Chen, MD

    Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Gynecology and Gynecologic Specialties/Urogynecology) and, by courtesy, of Urology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Chen’s research examines the molecular causes of urinary incontinence and pelvic floor dysfunction. Recognizing that urinary incontinence linked to demise of smooth muscle sphincter function, she is investigating the potential use of stem cell regeneration to restore muscle capacity.

  • Tony Chen, MD

    Tony Chen, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology

    BioDr. Chen is a fellowship-trained urologist who specializes in male reproductive medicine. He is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Urology at Stanford University School of Medicine.

    Dr. Chen diagnoses and treats male infertility, erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s Disease, Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), hypogonadism, and other disorders of the male genitourinary tract. He emphasizes getting to know the whole patient and utilizing a stepwise approach to treatment when appropriate. When surgery is required, he excels at scrotal surgery, minimally invasive prostate de-obstruction, penile implant placement, microsurgical vasectomy reversal, varicocele treatment, and surgical sperm retrieval.

    For every patient, Dr. Chen develops a personalized care plan emphasizing innovation, safety, and compassion.

    Dr. Chen has published his research findings in journals including Urology Practice, the Journal of Sexual Medicine, Endocrine, the Journal of Pediatric Urology, Journal of Endourology, and elsewhere. Topics have included the association between mortality and male infertility, the association of the COVID-19 pandemic on male sexual function, national trends in vasectomy, and more. He co-wrote the chapter “Simulation and Ureteroscopy” for the textbook Ureteroscopy.

    Dr. Chen is also an innovator with an interest in bringing novel technologies to the field of benign Urology. He has a background in the use of simulation science in medical teaching as well as in prototype design. He has received grant funding to prepare robotic surgeons for acute operating room scenarios and holds a provisional patent on a system for automated urine assessment and monitoring in the hospital.


    He has made presentations on male infertility and surgical simulation at meetings of the American Urological Association, American College of Surgeons, and Sexual Medicine Society.

    Dr. Chen has won recognition for his research and clinical achievements. He has received awards from the Western Section of the American Urological Association, American College of Surgeons, Society of Urologic Prosthetic Surgeons, and Sexual Medicine Society of North America.

    He is a member of the American Urological Association, American College of Surgeons, International Society for Sexual Medicine, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and Western Section of the American Urological Society.

  • Benjamin I. Chung

    Benjamin I. Chung

    Associate Professor of Urology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsRenal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer outcomes research and epidemiology.

  • Craig V. Comiter

    Craig V. Comiter

    Professor of Urology and, by courtesy, of Obstetrics and Gynecology
    On Leave from 09/03/2024 To 03/02/2025

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsUsing various animal models of bladder outlet obstruction as a representation of human prostatic disease, I am investigating how intervening with pharmacotherapy, neuromodulation, and other novel therapies may help to reverse the adverse changes in the bladder due to the obstruction.

    I also am investigating new, minimally invasive treatments for post-prostatectomy urinary incontinence.

    I am also investigating the role of neruomodulation in the treatment of chronic pelvic pain and IC.

  • Christos E. Constantinou

    Christos E. Constantinou

    Associate Professor of Urology, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy main recent interest is the application of Biomedical Engineering approaches for the clinical visualization and characterization of the static and dynamic properties of pelvic floor function. This extends to ultrasound Imaging and image processing, construction of computer models and biomechanics analysis of pelvic floor function. It is envisioned that these considerations are important constituents of the clinical evaluation of patients with lower urinary tract dysfunction and urodynamics.

  • Simon Conti

    Simon Conti

    Clinical Associate Professor, Urology

    BioI am a founding member of the Stanford Urolithiasis Project, where we have studied population health datasets to examine surgical outcomes and environmental risk factors in urinary stone disease. Our current focus includes socioeconomic and ethnic disparities in kidney stone disease, water quality and stone disease, pregnancy in kidney stone disease and geographical variations in kidney stones incidence and metabolic kidney stone work up.