School of Medicine
Showing 1-50 of 95 Results
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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
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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. In 2024, I am jointly appointed in the Stanford Department of Urology and Stem Cell Institute as an Assistant Professor. My laboratory has been supported by the Stanford Maternal & Child Health Research Institute, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Siebel Investigatorship, Additional Ventures, and other sources. -
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.
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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
Keith and Jan Hurlbut Professor
On Leave from 04/01/2025 To 07/31/2025Current 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.
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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.
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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.
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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
Associate Professor of Urology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsRenal cell carcinoma and prostate cancer outcomes research and epidemiology.
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Craig V. Comiter
Professor of Urology and, by courtesy, of Obstetrics and Gynecology
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
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.
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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.
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Amy D. Dobberfuhl, MD, MS
Assistant Professor of Urology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Dobberfuhl's current clinical practice includes: Pelvic Reconstruction, Neurourology, and Voiding Dysfunction.
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Christopher Stephen Elliott
Clinical Associate Professor (Affiliated), Urology - Divisions
BioDr Elliott is a fellowship trained, pelvic reconstructive surgeon with expertise in neurourology. He participated in the physician-scientist program at Ohio State University, receiving both and MD as well as a PhD in epidemiology. After completing his urologic residency at Stanford University Medical Center in 2010, he became Stanford's first Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery Fellow - a unique two year ABU/ABOG accredited fellowship with both Stanford Urology and Urogynecology faculty training. During this time he received a full experience in pelvic medicine that encompassed both male and female patients. He has clinical and surgical expertise in the management of female pelvic organ prolapse, complex urogynecologic anomalies, overactive bladder, BPH, voiding dysfunction secondary to neurologic disease and both male and female incontinence.
Starting in 2012, Dr Elliott joined the Division of Urology at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California with a joint appointment at Stanford University Medical Center. In addition to his clinical work, he has authored several book chapters, published multiple journal articles and taught courses at national meetings (AUA, AUGS). His main academic interests include the epidemiologic study of pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence and bladder dysfunction after spinal cord injury. Dr Elliott is currently a member of the SUFU young members committee and the Neurogenic Bladder Research Group.
Recent Publications
1)Spradling K, Sohlberg EM, Li S, Zhang CA, Brubaker WD, Dallas K, Pao AC, Liao J, Leppert JT, Elliott CS, Chung BI, Min GE, Conti SL. Urinary Stone Disease in Pregnancy: Current Management Practices in a Large National Cohort. Urology. 2020 (Epub ahead of print)
2)Dallas K, Rogo-Gupta L, Syan R, Enemchukwu E, Elliott CS. Balancing the possibility of needing a future incontinence procedure versus a future urethral sling revision surgery: a tradeoff analysis for continent women undergoing pelvic organ prolapse surgery. Int Urogynecol J. 2020 (Epub ahead of print)
3)Ehsanian R, Creasey G, Elliott CS, Abu-Eid CA, Ali A, Prutton M, Singh H. Implantation of Sacral Nerve Stimulator Without Rhizotomy for Neurogenic Bladder in Patient With Spinal Cord Injury: 2-Dimensional Operative Video. Oper Neurosurg (Hagerstown). 2020 Jan 24. [Epub ahead of print]
4)Sohlberg EM, Brubaker WD, Zhang CA, Anderegg LDL, Dallas K, Song S, Ganesan C, Chertow G, Pao A, Liao J, Leppert JT, Elliott CS, Conti SL. Urinary Stone Disease in Pregnancy: A Claims-Based Analysis of 1.4 Million Patients. J Urol. 2019 (epub ahead of print)
5)Song S, Thomas IC, Ganesan C, Sohlberg EM, Chertow GM, Liao JC, Conti S, Elliott CS, Pao AC, Leppert JT. Twenty-Four Hour Urine Testing and Prescriptions for Urinary Stone Disease-Related Medications in Veterans. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2019 (epub ahead of print)
6)Cheng RZ, Shkolyar E, Chang TC, Spradling K, Ganesan C, Song S, Pao AC, Leppert JT, Elliott CS, To'o K, Conti SL. Ultra-low-dose CT: An Effective Follow-up Imaging Modality for Ureterolithiasis. J Endourol. 2019 (epub ahead of print)
7)Kasman A, Stave C, Elliott C. Combination therapy in overactive bladder-untapped research opportunities: A systematic review of the literature. Neurourol Urodyn. (2019) epub ahead of print -
Ekene Enemchukwu, MD, MPH, FACS, URPS
Associate Professor of Urology and, by courtesy, of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Urogynecology)
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsHealth Services Research in the areas of urinary incontinence and genitourinary syndrome of menopause, quality of life, patient outcomes, quality improvement, patient satisfaction, and shared decision making.
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Alice C. Fan
Associate Professor of Medicine (Oncology) and, by courtesy, of Urology
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Fan is a physician scientist who studies how turning off oncogenes (cancer genes) can cause tumor regression in preclinical and clinical translational studies. Based on her findings, she has initiated clinical trials studying how targeted therapies affect cancer signals in kidney cancer and low grade lymphoma. In the laboratory, she uses new nanotechnology strategies for tumor diagnosis and treatment to define biomarkers for personalized therapy.
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Richard E. Fan
Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology
BioRichard E. Fan, Ph.D., is an engineer embedded in the Department of Urology in the Stanford School of Medicine.
Dr. Fan’s research relates to the development of clinically driven biomedical instrumentation and medical devices. He is interested in translational application of emerging technologies in the medical and surgical spaces, as well as the development of platforms to explore clinical and pre-clinical evaluation. His primary work is currently focused on image guided detection and treatment of prostate cancer, including MR-US fusion, focal therapies, embedded systems and robotics. -
Manikantam Gaddam
Research Engineer, Urology - Divisions
Current Role at StanfordResearch Engineer
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Pejman Ghanouni, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Radiology (Body MRI) and, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery, of Obstetrics and Gynecology and of Urology
On Partial Leave from 05/01/2025 To 06/30/2025BioDr. Ghanouni is a board-certified, fellowship-trained diagnostic radiologist with Stanford Health Care Radiology. He is an associate professor in the Department of Radiology, Division of Body MRI at Stanford University School of Medicine, and by courtesy, of Urology, of Neurosurgery, and of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Ghanouni is the director of the Stanford Health Care Minimally Invasive MR Interventional Center (MIMRIC) and the Focused Ultrasound Center of Excellence. He is also chief of the Division of Body MRI at Stanford University School of Medicine.
Dr. Ghanouni is recognized around the world for his extensive expertise in using advanced imaging to diagnose, manage, and treat a wide range of conditions and disorders. As a renowned leader in diagnostic and MRI-guided interventional radiology, Dr. Ghanouni creates a customized care plan for each of his patients.
Dr. Ghanouni’s research interests include the latest advances in MR-guided focused ultrasound techniques to treat essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, prostate cancer, bone tumors, desmoid tumors, and uterine fibroids. An experienced physician-scientist, Dr. Ghanouni has collaboratively led clinical trials and research initiatives that explore treatments for epilepsy, pancreatic cancer, and several types of tumors. Through these clinical trials, Dr. Ghanouni has helped secure FDA approval for many MR-guided focused ultrasound treatments.
His articles have been published in dozens of peer-reviewed medical journals, including Lancet Oncology, Neurology, Investigative Radiology, European Radiology, Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Journal of Neurosurgery, New England Journal of Medicine, and Radiology. Dr. Ghanouni has been invited to speak at conferences and symposiums all over the nation and the world, including in Rome, Italy; Tel Aviv, Israel; and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. He is widely regarded for his groundbreaking research as well as his clinical expertise.
Dr. Ghanouni is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, the International Society for Therapeutic Ultrasound, and the European Focused Ultrasound Society.
MR-guided focused ultrasound treatment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Bwq2YxD9eU -
Harcharan Gill
Kathryn Simmons Stamey Professor, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsBenign Prostatic Hyperplasia- Evaluation and development of new minimally invasive techniques
Endourology: developing, designing and evaluating new instruments
Bladder cancer: outcomes of treatment
BPH: cryotherapy and HIFU -
Vanessa Gulla, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Urology
BioDr. Gulla is a board-certified urologist with fellowship training in endourology. She is a clinical assistant professor in the Stanford University School of Medicine Department of Urology.
For each patient, she develops a comprehensive, compassionate care plan customized to individual needs. Her goal is to help each patient achieve the best possible health and quality of life.
Dr. Gulla performs the complete spectrum of diagnostic and treatment procedures for urological conditions. She treats disorders including benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), blood in urine, kidney stones, male and female voiding dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, prostate cancer, and over active bladder.
She excels at ureteroscopy and cystoscopy (examination of the bladder and urinary tract with a scope), endourology (minimally invasive treatment of kidney stones), laser therapy, ultrasound-guided diagnosis and treatment, urodynamic testing, and other techniques.
To help advance her field, Dr. Gulla has conducted research. Among the topics she has investigated are voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) testing in children for bladder and urethral abnormalities and for conditions that can lead to kidney infections.
She has presented her research findings at the national meeting of the American Urologic Association. She also has published papers in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons and elsewhere.
She is a member of the American Urologic Association. -
Susanna Gunamany
Postdoctoral Scholar, Urology
BioDr. Gunamany received her PhD in Public Health from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Gandhinagar. Before her doctoral studies, she earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), India, and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Kerala.
Dr. Gunamany's scholarly pursuits revolve around the convergence of health and technology, with a specific emphasis on mobile health (mHealth) and its potential for improving healthcare delivery and access. Broadening her research scope, she is interested in health disparities and inequalities research, focusing on marginalized populations and the intricate interplay of social, economic, and environmental factors influencing health outcomes. -
Hassan Jahanandish
Postdoctoral Scholar, Urology
BioDr. Hassan Jahanandish is a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford School of Medicine, where his research focuses on the intersection of multimodal AI and medical imaging with the overarching objective of advancing care paradigms for cancer patients. Before joining Stanford, he completed his PhD in Bioengineering at the University of Texas at Dallas and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2022). Beyond his research pursuits, Hassan is an Instructor and Team Mentor at Stanford Center for Biodesign, where he helps shape the future of medical innovation and healthcare entrepreneurship. Hassan's scholarly contributions have been published in numerous journals and conferences, including Lancet Oncology, NeurIPS, and ICRA, and his work in collaboration with Nokia Bell Labs has been awarded a United States patent. Hassan's achievements have been recognized by awards such as the Jonsson Family Graduate Fellowship in Bioengineering, the Doctoral Dissertation Research Award, and being an International RehabWeek paper award finalist (2019).
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Robert Kessler
Professor (Clinical) of Urology, Emeritus
Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMale infertility; impotence; urinary calculi; urinary, incontinence (male and female)
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Marvin Langston
Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health and, by courtesy, of Urology
BioDr. Marvin Langston is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health. He is a member of the Stanford Cancer Institute and Urologic Cancer Epidemiology Lab. He is an epidemiologist by training who focuses on the fields of benign prostate and pelvic conditions and urological cancers including prostate and kidney cancers.
Prior to Stanford, he served as a Research Scientist in the Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Dr. Langston received his PhD in Epidemiology from the University of Arizona’s College of Public Health followed by postdoctoral training in Cancer Prevention and Control at Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine.
His program of research intends to characterize and measure infectious agents, environmental toxicants, and lifestyle factors; to evaluate the role of these factors in urological cancer etiology and outcomes; and to identify populations at high risk of exposure to these factors. So far he has focused this research to address the following questions: 1) What role do sexually transmitted infections and other systemic infections have in prostate damage and ensuing prostate cancer risk? 2) How can we appropriately model and define early life risk factors for urological cancers? 3) Can we harmonize molecular and clinical aspects of urological condition diagnoses to produce well characterized outcomes for biomarker discovery and etiological investigation? He has primarily addressed these questions using a variety of molecular and clinical epidemiology approaches while developing expertise in the cross-cutting theme of cancer health disparities with particular interests in the cancer care experiences of sexual and gender minorities and racial/ethnic minorities.
Dr. Langston has been studying the impact of exogenous factors on prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentration in young men as a marker of prostate damage and inflammation for over a decade. As early life PSA has been found predictive of future prostate cancer mortality, he has now setout to optimize risk-stratified screening for prostate cancer. This promising approach uses men’s baseline PSA values to inform their risk of future aggressive and/or fatal prostate cancer and determine their frequency of further screening. Under this approach, men with high baseline age-specific total PSA levels receive more frequent screening and men with lower levels receive less frequent screening. Dr. Langston was awarded an R01 from NCI to evaluate this approach using historically collected biospecimen. His funded research trajectory to this point also includes four training awards (2-NCI and 2-NIDDK) and several internal grants. Dr. Langston was selected in the inaugural class of the White House Cancer Moonshot Scholars for his work.
