Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute


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  • Debra Safer

    Debra Safer

    Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (General Psychiatry and Psychology-Adult)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsPrimary research interests include the nature and treatment of eating disorders
    (particularly bulimia nervosa and binge eating disorder), the development and treatment of obesity, and the development and treatment of problematic eating patterns in patients following bariatric surgery.

  • Julien Sage

    Julien Sage

    Elaine and John Chambers Professor of Pediatric Cancer and Professor of Genetics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe investigate the mechanisms by which normal cells become tumor cells, and we combine genetics, genomics, and proteomics approaches to investigate the differences between the proliferative response in response to injury and the hyperproliferative phenotype of cancer cells and to identify novel therapeutic targets in cancer cells.

  • Manish Saggar

    Manish Saggar

    Associate Professor (Research) of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Interdisciplinary Brain Science Research)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe are a computational neuropsychiatry lab dedicated to developing computational methods to better understand brain’s overall dynamical organization in healthy and patient populations. We employ algorithms from a wide range of fields, including Applied Mathematics, Econometrics, Machine Learning, Biophysics, and Network Science.

  • Alberto Salleo

    Alberto Salleo

    Hong Seh and Vivian W. M. Lim Professor, Professor of Photon Science, and Senior Fellow at the Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsNovel materials and processing techniques for large-area and flexible electronic/photonic devices. Polymeric materials for electronics, bioelectronics, and biosensors. Electrochemical devices for neuromorphic computing. Defects and structure/property studies of polymeric semiconductors, nano-structured and amorphous materials in thin films. Advanced characterization techniques for soft matter.

  • Julia Salzman

    Julia Salzman

    Associate Professor of Biomedical Data Science, of Biochemistry and, by courtesy, of Statistics and of Biology
    On Leave from 09/01/2025 To 06/01/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly Interestsstatistical computational biology focusing on splicing, cancer and microbes

  • Jacinda Sampson

    Jacinda Sampson

    Clinical Professor, Adult Neurology

    BioDr. Jacinda Sampson received her MD and a PhD in biochemistry from University of Alabama at Birmingham, and completed her neurology residency and neurogenetics fellowship at the University of Utah. She served at Columbia University Medical Center prior to joining Stanford University Medical Center in 2015. Her areas of interest include myotonic dystrophies, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and neurogenetic disorders such as neurofibromatosis, hereditary spastic paraparesis, spinocerebellar ataxia, among others. She is interested in clinical trials for treatment of neurogenetic disorders, and in the clinical application of next-generation genomic sequencing to genetic testing.

  • Niyatee Samudra, MD

    Niyatee Samudra, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Adult Neurology

    BioDr. Samudra is a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. She is one of a small number of neurologists nationwide who is board-certified and fellowship-trained in epilepsy as well as in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry.

    Dr. Samudra leads a clinic at Stanford for the treatment of older adults with epilepsy. In addition, she has clinical interests in the treatment of atypical Parkinsonism and in women’s brain health across the lifespan. She co-leads the CurePSP Center of Care and is a member of the Menopause Collaborative of Practice at Stanford. Her varied research interests include clinical trials in neurodegenerative disease and in epilepsy; improving treatment for older adults with epilepsy; understanding the cognitive and neuropsychiatric consequences of epilepsy; and treatment of neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative disorders.

    Prior to coming to Stanford, Dr. Samudra was a fellow in behavioral neurology and neuropsychiatry at the University of California, San Francisco, as well as in epilepsy and clinical neurophysiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She completed her undergraduate degree at MIT and obtained her medical degree and neurology residency training at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

    Dr. Samudra has published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease; Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports; Journal of the Neurological Sciences; Seizure; and Epilepsy and Behavior, among others. She is a member of the American Epilepsy Society and the American Academy of Neurology.

  • Ansuman Satpathy, MD, PhD

    Ansuman Satpathy, MD, PhD

    Associate Professor of Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur lab works at the interface of immunology, cancer biology, and genomics to study cellular and molecular mechanisms of the immune response to cancer. In particular, we are leveraging high-throughput genomic technologies to understand the dynamics of the tumor-specific T cell response to cancer antigens and immunotherapies (checkpoint blockade, CAR-T cells, and others). We are also interested in understanding the impact of immuno-editing on the heterogeneity and clonal evolution of cancer.

  • Alan F. Schatzberg

    Alan F. Schatzberg

    Kenneth T. Norris, Jr. Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsBiological bases of depressive disorders;, glucocorticoid/dopamine interactions in delusional depression;, pharmacologic treatment of depressive disorders.

  • David Schneider

    David Schneider

    Professor of Microbiology and Immunology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe study innate immunity and microbial pathogenesis. We have been studying models for a variety of bacterial infections including: Listeria, Mycobacteria, Salmonella and Streptococcus as well as some fungi, malaria and viruses. Our current focus is to determine how we recover from infections.

  • Mark J. Schnitzer

    Mark J. Schnitzer

    Anne T. and Robert M. Bass Professor in the School of Humanities and Sciences and Professor of Biology, of Applied Physics and of Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe goal of our research is to advance experimental paradigms for understanding normal cognitive and disease processes at the level of neural circuits, with emphasis on learning and memory processes. To advance these paradigms, we invent optical brain imaging techniques, several of which have been widely adopted. Our neuroscience studies combine these imaging innovations with behavioral, electrophysiological, optogenetic and computational methods, enabling a holistic approach to brain science.

  • Kristin Schreiber

    Kristin Schreiber

    Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain Medicine (Regional Anesthesia)

    BioDr. Kristin Schreiber is a Professor and Regional Anesthesiologist whose clinical work involves caring for surgical patients in the perioperative period, and whose research work is centered around predicting and preventing Chronic Postsurgical Pain (CPSP). Her PhD in Neuroscience investigated mechanisms of spinal plasticity in the development of chronic pain states, and her translational clinical research program aims to understand which patient are at risk to develop CPSP, why, and how to best prevent it in different individuals. She employs the careful preoperative pain phenotyping, investigating factors that underlie variability in postsurgical trajectories, and testing both pharmacologic and behavioral interventions to reduce postsurgical pain. Her quantitative sensory testing lab-based studies investigate difference in pain processing, in the absence and presence of modulators of pain including regional anesthesia, placebo, distraction, and music. She has enjoyed continuous external funding from the NIH since 2015, and has held administrative roles including associate VC of Research, and VC of Faculty Development, and PI of a translational pain research training grant at Harvard Medical School. She is a handling editor at Anesthesiology, and Pain Medicine, and currently serves as the Chief of Regional Anesthesia in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine.

  • Birgitt Schuele

    Birgitt Schuele

    Associate Professor (Research) of Pathology and, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Schuele lab focuses on neurogenetics, human stem cell modeling, and gene therapy approaches to uncover disease mechanisms and pathways involved in neurodegeneration in Parkinson's, Alzheimer's disease and related disorders.

  • Elizabeth Schumann

    Elizabeth Schumann

    Billie Bennett Achilles Director of Keyboard Programs and Assistant Professor (Teaching) of Music

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsAs a concert pianist, I deeply value the rich traditions of classical music. My passion lies in blending this artistry with scientific insights from neuroscience to biomechanics. This isn't solely about music; it's about applying lessons about optimal practice and peak performance to life's broader canvas. Through my research, I strive to evolve musical training, paving the way for the next generation of dedicated and resilient performers.

  • Daniel Schwartz

    Daniel Schwartz

    Dean of the Graduate School of Education and the Nomellini & Olivier Professor of Educational Technology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsInstructional methods, transfer of learning and assessment, mathematical development, teachable agents, cognition, and cognitive neuroscience.

  • Neil Schwartz, MD, PhD

    Neil Schwartz, MD, PhD

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

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy clinical interests involve inpatient and outpatient care of patients with neurovascular diseases, mostly ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. I have a particular interest in cervical artery dissection, non-atherosclerotic vasculopathies, and stroke in the young.

  • Matthew P. Scott

    Matthew P. Scott

    Professor of Developmental Biology, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur research has been focused on the genetic regulation of animal development and its relation to birth defects, cancer, and neurodegeneration. We studied mechanisms and functions of Hedgehog (Hh) signaling, which controls cell fates and growth, in the context of normal development and brain cancer. We studied a neurodegenerative disease, Niemann-Pick C syndrome, that affects intracellular organelle movements and sterol homeostasis. Due to Dr. Scott's new job, the lab is no longer active.

  • Vittorio Sebastiano

    Vittorio Sebastiano

    Associate Professor (Research) of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Reproductive, Perinatal & Stem Cell Biology Research)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe thread of Ariadne that connects germ cells, preimplatation development and pluripotent stem cells is the focus of my research, with a specific interest in human development. My long-term goals are: 1. Understanding the biology of germ cells and and their ability to sustain early preimplantation development; 2. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate very early cell fate decisions in human embryos; 3. Understanding the biology of derivation and maintenance of Pluripotent Stem Cells

  • Yasir Sepah

    Yasir Sepah

    Assistant Professor (Research) of Ophthalmology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsYasir's primary focus is on early identification of ocular diseases and objective assessment of response to therapy via biomarker (imaging and molecular) discovery and endpoints development for clinical trials. His lab is also developing and implementing protocols and methods to make decentralized clinical trials in ophthalmology viable.

    Yasir is also engaged in developing low-tech, low cost and less intelligent solutions in order to improve patient's access to care.

  • Kawin Setsompop

    Kawin Setsompop

    Professor of Radiology (Radiological Sciences Laboratory) and, by courtesy, of Electrical Engineering

    BioKawin Setsompop is a Professor of Radiology and, by courtesy, of Electrical Engineering. His research focuses on the development of novel MRI acquisition methods, with the goal of creating imaging technologies that can be used to help better understand brain structure and function for applications in Healthcare and Health sciences. He received his Master’s degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University and his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT. Prior to joining Stanford, he was a postdoctoral fellow and subsequently a faculty at the A.A. Martinos center for biomedical imaging, MGH, as well as part of the Harvard and MIT faculty. His group has pioneered several widely-used MRI acquisition technologies, a number of which have been successfully translated into FDA-approved clinical products on Siemens, GE, Phillips, United Imaging and Bruker MRI scanners worldwide. These technologies are being used daily to study the brain in both clinical and neuroscientific fields.

  • Nigam H. Shah, MBBS, PhD

    Nigam H. Shah, MBBS, PhD

    Professor of Medicine (Biomedical Informatics), of Biomedical Data Science and, by courtesy, of Computer Science

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe answer clinical questions using aggregate patient data at the bedside. The Informatics Consult Service (https://greenbutton.stanford.edu/) put this idea in action and led to the creation of Atropos Health. We build predictive models that allow taking mitigating actions, keeping the human in the loop.

  • Nirao Shah

    Nirao Shah

    Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Major Laboratories and Clinical Translational Neurosciences Incubator), of Neurobiology and, by courtesy, of Obstetrics and Gynecology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe study how our brains generate social interactions that differ between the sexes. Such gender differences in behavior are regulated by sex hormones, experience, and social cues. Accordingly, we are characterizing how these internal and external factors control gene expression and neuronal physiology in the two sexes to generate behavior. We are also interested in understanding how such sex differences in the healthy brain translate to sex differences in many neuro-psychiatric illnesses.

  • Cory Shain

    Cory Shain

    Assistant Professor of Linguistics and, by courtesy, of Psychology

    BioI lead the Laboratory for Computation & Language in Minds & Brains (CLiMB Lab). We try to figure out how our brains let us go so efficiently from sensation (e.g., speech, reading) to meaning, and we do this using a combination of neuroimaging, computer modeling, and behavioral experiments. See the lab website for details.

  • Mehrdad Shamloo

    Mehrdad Shamloo

    Professor (Research) of Neurosurgery and, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe ultimate goal of the Shamloo laboratory is to rapidly advance our understanding of brain function at the molecular, cellular, circuit and behavioral levels, and to elucidate the pathological process underlying malfunction of the nervous system following injury and neurologic disorders such as stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson’s disease, and autism. We have been focusing on the noradrenergic system and approaches leading to restoration of brain adrenergic signaling in these disorders.

  • Carla Shatz

    Carla Shatz

    Sapp Family Provostial Professor and Professor of Biology and of Neurobiology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe goal of research in the Shatz Laboratory is to discover how brain circuits are tuned up by experience during critical periods of development both before and after birth by elucidating cellular and molecular mechanisms that transform early fetal and neonatal brain circuits into mature connections. To discover mechanistic underpinnings of circuit tuning, the lab has conducted functional screens for genes regulated by neural activity and studied their function for vision, learning and memory.

  • Kang Shen

    Kang Shen

    Vincent V.C. Woo Director, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Frank Lee and Carol Hall Professor and Professor of Biology and of Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe connectivity of a neuron (its unique constellation of synaptic inputs and outputs) is essential for its function. Neuronal connections are made with exquisite accuracy between specific types of neurons. How each neuron finds its synaptic partners has been a central question in developmental neurobiology. We utilize the relatively simple nervous system of nematode C. elegans, to search for molecules that can specify synaptic connections and understand the molecular mechanisms of synaptic as

  • Krishna Shenoy

    Krishna Shenoy

    Member, Bio-X

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe conduct neuroscience, neuroengineering and translational research to better understand how the brain controls movement, and to design medical systems to assist people with paralysis. These are referred to as brain-machine interfaces (BMIs), brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) and intra-cortical neural prostheses. We conduct this research as part of our Neural Prosthetic Systems Lab (NPSL) and our Neural Prosthetics Translational Lab (NPTL), which I co-direct with Prof. Jaimie Henderson, M.D.

  • Laura Simons

    Laura Simons

    Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (Pediatric)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI am a Professor in the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine at Stanford University School of Medicine and a clinical psychologist who evaluates and treats youth presenting with chronic pain in the Pediatric Pain Management Clinic (PPMC) at Stanford Children’s Health. My program of research aims to utilize a pain neuroscience psychology approach to gain a mechanistic understanding of cognitive and affective processes in pediatric pain, perform rigorous patient-oriented research that translates targeted assessment into mechanistically informed treatment approaches for optimal clinical care and leverage the ubiquity of digital health to enhance patient access and reach. Central to these goals are projects targeting adolescence and youth adults with chronic pain that encompass defining brain signatures of threat interpretation, evaluating the efficacy of graded exposure (NCT03699007), deriving a biosignature of improvement vs. persistence of pain and disability (NCT04285112), and evaluating the impact of virtual reality on pain rehabilitation (NCT04636177). These studies along with additional work examining the journey of pain care for youth with pain and their parents form a comprehensive research portfolio in the realm of understanding and treating chronic pain in young people. My long-term career goal is to lead a robust research program focusing on alleviating the suffering of youth and emerging adults with chronic pain.

  • Upinder Singh

    Upinder Singh

    Stanford Medicine Professor of Infectious Disease and Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases & Geographic Medicine), Emerita

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur lab elucidates the molecular basis of pathogenesis of the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica. We use genetic and genomic approaches to identify novel virulence determinants and to characterize the global epidemiology of the parasite.

  • Stephen J Smith

    Stephen J Smith

    Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsStephen Smith remains active in the computational microscopy field and is also currently using data science tools to explore new transcriptomic perspectives on signaling by neuropeptides and other neuromodulators in brains of diverse animal species. These exploration have unearthed evidence for a previous unrecognized ubiquity of local neuropeptide signaling and possible critical involvement of such signaling in memory engram formation.

  • Matthew Smuck, MD

    Matthew Smuck, MD

    Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsI direct the Wearable Health Lab at Stanford, investigating medical applications of mobile technology to improve musculoskeletal and neurologic disease detection, treatment and prevention.

  • Michael Snyder, Ph.D.

    Michael Snyder, Ph.D.

    Stanford W. Ascherman Professor of Genetics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory use different omics approaches to study a) regulatory networks, b) intra- and inter-species variation which differs primarily at the level of regulatory information c) human health and disease. For the later we have established integrated Personal Omics Profiling (iPOP), an analysis that combines longitudinal analyses of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, metabolomic, DNA methylation, microbiome and autoantibody profiles to monitor healthy and disease states

  • Bruno Passebon Soares, MD

    Bruno Passebon Soares, MD

    Associate Professor of Radiology (Pediatric)

    BioDr. Soares is an Associate Professor of Radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine and serves as the Section Chief of Pediatric Neuroradiology at Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford since June 2023.

    Born in Brazil, Dr. Bruno P. Soares obtained his medical degree from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the Federal University of Sao Paulo. After one year as a Research Fellow at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), Dr. Soares completed clinical fellowships in Diagnostic Neuroradiology, Pediatric Radiology, and Pediatric Neuroradiology at UCSF, in addition to a clinical fellowship in PET/CT at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute of Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Soares holds a subspecialty certificate in Neuroradiology from the American Board of Radiology (ABR).

    From July 2013 to July 2016, Dr. Soares was an Assistant Professor in the Division of Neuroradiology at Emory University in Atlanta. From August 2016 to November 2018, he worked at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Pediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology. From December 2018 to May 2023, Dr. Soares worked at the University of Vermont Medical Center as Associate Professor of Radiology, Division Chief of Neuroradiology, Vice-Chair of Imaging Research, and Co-Director of the MRI Center for Biomedical Imaging.

    Dr. Soares has published more than 85 peer-reviewed articles and has been the recipient of the Research Fellow Grant from the Society for Pediatric Radiology and of the Rad_Britestar Award from the Johns Hopkins Department of Radiology. The recognition for his teaching includes the 2013 Outstanding Clinical Fellow / Instructor Teaching Award from the UCSF Department of Radiology, the 2017 Teacher of Year Award from the Johns Hopkins Division of Pediatric Radiology, and the 2017 ASNR International Outreach Professor Program in Ghana.

    Dr. Soares currently serves as an Editorial Board Member of Neuroradiology and of the Journal of Neuroimaging, and has served as an Editorial Board Member of the American Journal of Roentgenology (AJR) and of the American Journal of Neuroradiology (AJNR). Dr. Soares served for six years as a member of the ABR Neuroradiology Core Exam Committee, receiving ABR Volunteer Service Awards in 2022 and 2024.

    His research has focused on neonatal and pediatric brain imaging. He is currently focused on developing semi-automated algorithms to quantify normal and abnormal brain development, and applying deep learning algorithms for detection of subtle cerebral abnormalities in children with epilepsy.

  • Raymond A. Sobel, M.D.

    Raymond A. Sobel, M.D.

    Professor of Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe study cellular and molecular mechanisms of immune-mediated injury in CNS tissues that are affected in multiple sclerosis (MS). We study: 1) tissues of mice with EAE using histology and immunohistochemistry, 2) cross-recognition of neurons by antibodies against myelin proteolipid protein epitopes, and a distinct oligodendrogliopathy induced in mice by the non-protein amino acid azetidine (Aze), (which is found in the human diet); Aze-induced abnormalities mimic those in MS patient CNS tissues

  • Hyongsok Tom  Soh

    Hyongsok Tom Soh

    W. M. Keck Foundation Professor of Electrical Engineering, Professor of Radiology (Diagnostic Sciences Laboratory) and of Bioengineering

    BioDr. Soh received his B.S. with a double major in Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science with Distinction from Cornell University and his Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University. From 1999 to 2003, Dr. Soh served as the technical manager of MEMS Device Research Group at Bell Laboratories and Agere Systems. He was a faculty member at UCSB before joining Stanford in 2015. His current research interests are in analytical biotechnology, especially in high-throughput screening, directed evolution, and integrated biosensors.

  • Olav Solgaard

    Olav Solgaard

    Audrey S. Hancock Professor in the School of Engineering

    BioThe Solgaard group focus on design and fabrication of nano-photonics and micro-optical systems. We combine photonic crystals, optical meta-materials, silicon photonics, and MEMS, to create efficient and reliable systems for communication, sensing, imaging, and optical manipulation.

  • Ivan Soltesz

    Ivan Soltesz

    James R. Doty Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurosciences

    BioIvan Soltesz received his doctorate in Budapest and conducted postdoctoral research at universities at Oxford, London, Stanford and Dallas. He established his laboratory at the University of California, Irvine, in 1995. He became full Professor in 2003, and served as department Chair from 2006 to July 2015. He returned to Stanford in 2015 as the James R. Doty Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurosciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. His major research interest is focused on neuronal microcircuits, network oscillations, cannabinoid signaling and the mechanistic bases of circuit dysfunction in epilepsy.
    His laboratory employs a combination of closely integrated experimental and theoretical techniques, including closed-loop in vivo optogenetics, paired patch clamp recordings, in vivo electrophysiological recordings from identified interneurons in awake mice, 2-photon imaging, machine learning-aided 3D video analysis of behavior, video-EEG recordings, behavioral approaches, and large-scale computational modeling methods using supercomputers. He is the author of a book on GABAergic microcircuits (Diversity in the Neuronal Machine, Oxford University Press), and editor of a book on Computational Neuroscience in Epilepsy (Academic Press/Elsevier). He co-founded the first Gordon Research Conference on the Mechanisms of neuronal synchronization and epilepsy, and taught for five years in the Ion Channels Course at Cold Springs Harbor. He has over 30 years of research experience, with over 20 years as a faculty involved in the training of graduate students (total of 16, 6 of them MD/PhDs) and postdoctoral fellows (20), many of whom received fellowship awards, K99 grants, joined prestigious residency programs and became independent faculty.

  • David A. Spain, MD

    David A. Spain, MD

    Professor of Surgery (General Surgery)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur main areas of interest are
    1. clinical research in trauma and critical illness
    2. economics of this care
    3. PTSD and stress response after critical injury or illness

  • David Spiegel

    David Spiegel

    Jack, Lulu and Sam Willson Professor of Medicine
    On Partial Leave from 10/01/2025 To 05/15/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Spiegel's research program involves mind/body interactions, including cancer progression, the response to traumatic stress, and the effect of hypnosis on the perception of pain and anxiety.

  • Daniel Spielman

    Daniel Spielman

    Professor of Radiology (Radiological Sciences Lab) and, by courtesy, of Electrical Engineering

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research interests are in the field of medical imaging, particularly magnetic resonance imaging and in vivo spectroscopy. Current projects include MRI and MRS at high magnetic fields and metabolic imaging using hyperpolarized 13C-labeled MRS.

  • Konstantina M. Stankovic, MD, PhD, FACS

    Konstantina M. Stankovic, MD, PhD, FACS

    Bertarelli Foundation Professor and Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) and, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur investigative efforts are organized along 3 research thrusts:
    1. Vestibular schwannoma: uncovering mechanisms of sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) and identifying better therapies;
    2. High-resolution imaging of the inner ear;
    3. Novel sensing of and therapies for SNHL.
    Considering the complex and multifaceted nature of these challenges, our approach entails tailored solutions that integrate techniques from molecular biology, systems neuroscience, biotechnology, and otologic surgery.

  • Creed Stary

    Creed Stary

    Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (MSD) and, by courtesy, of Ophthalmology
    On Partial Leave from 06/01/2025 To 03/31/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMechanisms promoting neuronal survival following cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury; utilizing microRNA's to target multiple pathways to promote mitochondrial homeostasis and cell survival; anesthetic neurotoxicity; astrocyte-neuronal interaction

  • Kristen K. Steenerson, MD

    Kristen K. Steenerson, MD

    Clinical Associate Professor, Otolaryngology (Head and Neck Surgery)
    Clinical Assistant Professor, Adult Neurology

    Bio=Dr. Kristen K. Steenerson is a Clinical Associate Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, specializing in vestibular neurology and neuro-otology. She directs clinical care within the Vestibular Neurology Clinic at the Stanford Ear Institute, where she focuses on the diagnosis and management of complex dizziness and balance disorders, including vestibular migraine, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, Ménière disease, bilateral vestibulopathy, and persistent postural-perceptual dizziness.

    Her academic program integrates translational research with clinician education to improve the diagnosis and treatment of vestibular disorders. Her research focuses on the development and validation of objective, technology-enabled tools to measure vestibular function in real-world settings. She leads initiatives evaluating wearable electro-oculography platforms for ambulatory nystagmus detection, as well as sensor-based systems using inertial measurement units to assess mobility, fall risk, and functional engagement. Her work leverages multidisciplinary collaboration across neurology, otolaryngology, audiology, engineering, and data science, with the goal of establishing scalable digital biomarkers and vestibular-specific clinical trial endpoints.

    In parallel, Dr. Steenerson is deeply engaged in national and international clinician education. She serves as course director and faculty for multiple continuing medical education programs in vestibular neurology and neuro-otology, with a focus on bedside examination skills, acute dizziness evaluation, and diagnostic reasoning. She has developed interdisciplinary curricula and clinical training pathways designed to expand vestibular expertise among neurologists, otolaryngologists, advanced practice providers, and trainees.

    Her scholarly work also includes clinical outcomes research and care delivery innovation, particularly in vestibular migraine and episodic vertigo disorders. She has led initiatives to standardize triage, referral pathways, and multidisciplinary care models for patients with dizziness, translating evidence into practical frameworks that improve access, diagnostic accuracy, and patient outcomes.

    Through the integration of clinical innovation, translational research, and clinician education, Dr. Steenerson’s work aims to modernize vestibular care and expand the reach of specialized expertise beyond tertiary referral centers.

  • Marcia L. Stefanick, Ph.D.

    Marcia L. Stefanick, Ph.D.

    Professor (Research) of Medicine (Stanford Prevention Research Center), of Obstetrics and Gynecology and, by courtesy, of Epidemiology and Population Health

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMarcia L. Stefanick, Ph.D is a Professor of Medicine Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and by courtesy, Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Stefanick’s research focuses on chronic disease prevention (particularly, heart disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis, and dementia) in both women and men. She is currently the Principal Investigator the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) Extension Study, having been the PI of the Stanford Clinical Center of the landmark WHI Clinical Trials and Observational Study since 1994 and Chair of the WHI Steering and Executive Committees from 1998-2011, as well as PI of the WHI Strong and Healthy (WHISH) Trial which is testing the hypothesis that a DHHS-based physical activity intervention, being delivered to a multi-ethnic cohort of about 24,000 WHI participants across the U.S., aged 68-99 when the trial started in 2015, will reduce major cardiovascular events over 8 years, compared to an equal number of “usual activity” controls. Dr. Stefanick is also PI of the Osteoporotic Study of Men (MrOS) which is continuing to conduct clinical assessments of bone and body composition in survivors of an original cohort of nearly 6000 men aged 65 and over in 2001. As founding Director of the Stanford Women’s Health and Sex Differences in Medicine (WHSDM, “wisdom”) Center, she plays a major role in promoting research and teaching on Sex and Gender in Human Physiology and Disease, Women’s Health and Queer Health and Medicine. Dr. Stefanick also plays major leadership roles at the Stanford School of Medicine, including as co-leader of the Population Sciences Program of the Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford’s NCI-funded comprehensive cancer center.

    Dr. Stefanick obtained her B.A. in biology from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA (1974), then pursued her interest in hormone and sex difference research at the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, after which she obtained her PhD in Physiology at Stanford University, focusing on reproductive physiology and neuroendocrinology, with exercise physiology as a secondary focus. Her commitment to human research led to a post-doctoral fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at the Stanford Prevention Research Center, which has been her academic home for nearly 40 years.

  • Gary K. Steinberg, MD, PhD

    Gary K. Steinberg, MD, PhD

    Bernard and Ronni Lacroute-William Randolph Hearst Professor of Neurosurgery and Neurosciences and Professor, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory investigates the pathophysiology and treatment of cerebral ischemia, and methods to restore neurologic function after stroke. Treatment strategies include brain hypothermia, stem cell transplantation and optogenetic stimulation. Our clinical research develops innovative surgical, endovascular and radiosurgical approaches for treating difficult intracranial aneurysms, complex vascular malformations and occlusive disease, including Moyamoya disease, as well as stem cell transplant.

  • Lawrence Steinman, MD

    Lawrence Steinman, MD

    George A. Zimmermann Professor and Professor of Pediatrics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur laboratory is dedicated to understanding the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, particularly multiple sclerosis. We have developed several new therapies for autoimmunity, including some in Phase 2 clinical trials, as well as one approved drug, natalizumab. We have developed microarray technology for detecting autoantibodies to myelin proteins and lipids. We employ a diverse range of molecular and celluar approaches to trying to understand multiple sclerosis.

  • Lars Steinmetz

    Lars Steinmetz

    Dieter Schwarz Foundation Endowed Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Steinmetz lab develops genomic technologies to study the genetic basis of complex phenotypes, the mechanisms of gene regulation, and the molecular systems underpinning disease. We’re leveraging biological insights across scales and organisms to predict, diagnose, treat and ultimately prevent disease.

  • Eric Stice

    Eric Stice

    Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Public Mental Health and Population Sciences)
    On Partial Leave from 03/01/2026 To 05/31/2026

    BioDr. Stice served as an assistant professor and associate professor at the University of Texas at Austin and as a Senior Research Scientist at Oregon Research Institute before joining the faculty at Stanford University. His research focuses on identifying risk factors that predict onset of eating disorders, obesity, substance abuse, and depression to advance knowledge regarding etiologic processes, including the use of functional neural imaging. He also designs, evaluates, and disseminates prevention and treatment interventions for eating disorders, obesity, and depression. For instance, he developed a dissonance-based eating disorder prevention program that has been implemented with over 6 million young girls in 140 countries. He has published 335 articles in high-impact outlets, including Science, Psychological Bulletin, Archives of General Biological Psychiatry, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and Journal of Neuroscience.

  • Aaron F. Straight

    Aaron F. Straight

    Pfeiffer and Herold Families Professor, Professor of Biochemistry and, by courtesy, of Chemical and Systems Biology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe study the biology of chromosomes. Our research is focused on understanding how chromosomal domains are specialized for unique functions in chromosome segregation, cell division and cell differentiation. We are particularly interested in the genetic and epigenetic processes that govern vertebrate centromere function, in the organization of the genome in the eukaryotic nucleus and in the roles of RNAs in the regulation of chromosome structure.

  • Thomas Sudhof

    Thomas Sudhof

    Avram Goldstein Professor in the School of Medicine, Professor of Neurosurgery and, by courtesy, of Neurology and Neurological Sciences and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsInformation transfer at synapses mediates information processing in brain, and is impaired in many brain diseases. Thomas Südhof is interested in how synapses are formed, how presynaptic terminals release neurotransmitters at synapses, and how synapses become dysfunctional in diseases such as autism or Alzheimer's disease. To address these questions, Südhof's laboratory employs approaches ranging from biophysical studies to the electrophysiological and behavioral analyses of mutant mice.

  • Brian Suffoletto

    Brian Suffoletto

    Professor of Emergency Medicine (Adult Clinical/Academic)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDr. Suffoletto is an emergency physician and NIH-funded investigator with a focus on collecting novel forms of longitudinal and remote data to inform temporal risk prediction and inform just-in-time adaptive interventions

  • Edith Vioni Sullivan

    Edith Vioni Sullivan

    Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Major Laboratories and Clinical Translational Neurosciences Incubator)
    On Partial Leave from 03/02/2026 To 04/06/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsApplication of neuroimaging modalities and component process analysis of cognitive, sensory, and motor functions to identify brain structural and functional mechanisms disrupted in diseases affecting the brain: alcohol use disorder, HIV infection, dementia, and normal aging from adolescence to senescence.

  • Wenfei Sun

    Wenfei Sun

    Assistant Professor of Medicine (Endocrinology)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe explore neural circuits regulating memory and systemic metabolism, integrating neuroscience and metabolic biology to tackle cognitive decline and metabolic disorders.

  • Yang Sun, MD, PhD

    Yang Sun, MD, PhD

    Professor of Ophthalmology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe are interested in the role of inositol phosphatases in eye development and disease, using both animal models and human disease tissue. We are a translational laboratory seeking to understand the basic function of proteins as well as developing therapeutic strategies for clinical trials.

  • Trisha Suppes, MD, PhD

    Trisha Suppes, MD, PhD

    Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Public Mental Health and Population Sciences)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsLong-term treatment strategies for bipolar disorder, treatment for bipolar II disorder, use of treatment algorithms, and treatment of major depression.

  • Vidyani Suryadevara

    Vidyani Suryadevara

    Instructor, Genetics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsA Bioengineer by training, she has a breadth of experiences across different scientific disciplines including pulmonary diseases, Alzheimer’s disease, and musculoskeletal disorders, wherein her research projects involved unraveling signaling mechanism behind the disease in order to identify new therapeutic targets and developing imaging modalities for early diagnosis of the disease, thus eventually improving the quality of life in patients. Her current work has been centered around age-associated pathophysiologies like osteoarthritis and Alzheimer's Disease. Her research currently focuses on the clinical translation of a novel noninvasive multimodality imaging approach to detect senescence in osteoarthritis and Alzheimer's Disease and understand the senescence biology in these age-associated diseases.

    She has led teams of renowned senescence scientists across the US to develop expert recommendations for biomarkers for senescence. She is also a faculty fellow in the Center for Innovation at Global Health, wherein her focus is to develop region-specific lifestyle interventions to prevent dementia.

  • Katrin J Svensson

    Katrin J Svensson

    Associate Professor of Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMolecular metabolism
    Protein biochemistry
    Cell biology and function
    Animal physiology

  • Holly Tabor

    Holly Tabor

    Professor of Medicine (Primary Care & Population Health) and, by courtesy, of Pediatrics (Stanford Center of Biomedical Ethics) and of Epidemiology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research focuses on ethical issues in genetics and genomics, specifically return of results and translation for exome and whole genome sequencing and translation of genomic sequencing into the clinical setting. I also conduct research on ethical issues in clinical care and research for patients and families with autism and other developmental and cognitive disabilities.

  • William Talbot

    William Talbot

    Mary and Dr. Salim Shelby Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe use genetic and cellular approaches to investigate the molecular basis of glial development and myelination in the zebrafish.

  • Longzhi Tan

    Longzhi Tan

    Assistant Professor of Neurobiology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Tan Lab studies the single-cell 3D genome architectural basis of neurodevelopment and aging by developing the next generation of in vivo multi-omic assays and algorithms, and applying them to the human and mouse cerebellum.

  • Hua Tang

    Hua Tang

    Professor of Genetics and, by courtesy, of Statistics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsDevelop statistical and computational methods for population genomics analyses; modeling human evolutionary history; genetic association studies in admixed populations.

  • Daniel Tartakovsky

    Daniel Tartakovsky

    Professor of Energy Science Engineering

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsEnvironmental fluid mechanics, Applied and computational mathematics, Biomedical modeling.

  • Chris Tarver, MD, FAAPMR

    Chris Tarver, MD, FAAPMR

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
    Clinical Assistant Professor (By courtesy), Neurosurgery
    Clinical Assistant Professor (By courtesy), Adult Neurology

    BioDr. Tarver is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Brain Injury Medicine, with an emphasis on stroke rehabilitation. He is also a clinical assistant professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and a clinical assistant professor (by courtesy) in the Department of Neurosurgery and the Department of Neurology & Neurological Sciences at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Tarver completed a PM&R residency at Loma Linda University Health. Prior to that, he received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and Doctor of Medicine degrees from Texas A&M University.

  • Peter Tass

    Peter Tass

    Professor of Neurosurgery

    BioDr. Peter Tass investigates and develops neuromodulation techniques for understanding and treating neurologic conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, dysfunction following stroke and tinnitus. He creates invasive and non-invasive therapeutic procedures by means of comprehensive computational neuroscience studies and advanced data analysis techniques. The computational neuroscience studies guide experiments that use clinical electrophysiology measures, such as high density EEG recordings and MRI imaging, and various outcome measures. He has pioneered a neuromodulation approach based on thorough computational modelling that employs dynamic self-organization, plasticity and other neuromodulation principles to produce sustained effects after stimulation. To investigate stimulation effects and disease-related brain activity, he focuses on the development of stimulation methods that cause a sustained neural desynchronization by an unlearning of abnormal synaptic interactions. He also performs and contributes to pre-clinical and clinical research in related areas.

  • Vivianne Tawfik

    Vivianne Tawfik

    Associate Professor of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine (Adult Pain)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy overall research interest is to understand how the immune system interacts with the nervous system after injury to promote the transition from acute to chronic pain. In my clinical practice I care for patients with persistent pain that often occurs after minor trauma such as fracture or surgery. Using basic science approaches including whole system immune phenotyping with mass cytometry and genetic manipulation of peripheral and central immune cells, we seek to dissect the temporal and tissue-specific contribution of these cells to either promotion or inhibition of healing.

  • Christoph Thaiss

    Christoph Thaiss

    Assistant Professor of Pathology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Thaiss Lab investigates how gut-brain interactions influence health and disease. By studying microbiome-host communication, the lab explores how microbial signals impact immune function, metabolism, and neurological health. Using multi-omic technologies and computational models, they aim to uncover mechanisms underlying inflammation, neurological disorders, and metabolic diseases. Their research supports the development of personalized therapies targeting the gut-brain axis.

  • Avnesh Thakor

    Avnesh Thakor

    Professor of Radiology (Pediatric Radiology)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsInterventional Radiologists can access almost any part of the human body without the need for conventional open surgical techniques. As such, they are poised to change the way patients can be treated, given they can locally deliver drug, gene, cell and cell-free therapies directly to affected organs using image-guided endovascular, percutaneous, endoluminal, and even using device implantation approaches

  • Suzanne Tharin

    Suzanne Tharin

    Associate Professor of Neurosurgery

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe long-term goal of my research is the repair of damaged corticospinal circuitry. Therapeutic regeneration strategies will be informed by an understanding both of corticospinal motor neuron (CSMN) development and of events occurring in CSMN in the setting of spinal cord injury. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding RNAs that regulate the expression of “suites” of genes. The work in my lab seeks to identify microRNA controls over CSMN development and over the CSMN response to spinal cord injury.

  • Stuart Thompson

    Stuart Thompson

    Professor of Biology (Hopkins Marine Station)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsNeurobiology, signal transduction

  • Alice Ting

    Alice Ting

    Professor of Genetics, of Biology and, by courtesy, of Chemistry
    On Leave from 09/22/2025 To 06/10/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe develop chemogenetic and optogenetic technologies for probing and manipulating protein networks, cellular RNA, and the function of mitochondria and the mammalian brain. Our technologies draw from protein engineering, directed evolution, computational design, chemical biology, organic synthesis, microscopy, and genomics.

  • Andreas Tolias

    Andreas Tolias

    Professor of Ophthalmology

    BioAndreas Tolias is a faculty member at Stanford University, where he co-leads the Enigma Project. His research lies at the interface of neuroscience and AI, combining large-scale neuroscience experiments with machine learning to uncover the principles of natural intelligence. By focusing on perceptual inference and decision-making, his lab integrates systems and computational neuroscience with AI to decipher the network-level principles of intelligence. Dr. Tolias’s work aims to reverse-engineer these principles to create AI systems that are smarter, more robust, trustworthy, and efficient, while providing a powerful platform to test brain algorithms under complex natural tasks. He earned his B.A. and M.A. in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, a Ph.D. in Systems and Computational Neuroscience from MIT, and completed postdoctoral training in Neuroscience and Machine Learning at the Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics in Tübingen.

  • Jeanne L. Tsai

    Jeanne L. Tsai

    Dunlevie Family Professor

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research examines how culture shapes affective processes (emotions, moods, feelings) and the implications cultural differences in these processes have for what decisions people make, how people think about health and illness, and how people perceive and respond to others in an increasingly multicultural world.

  • Philip S. Tsao, PhD

    Philip S. Tsao, PhD

    Professor (Research) of Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine)

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur primary interests are in the molecular underpinnings of vascular disease as well as assessing disease risk. In addition to targeted investigation of specific signaling molecules, we utilize global genomic analysis to identify gene expression networks and regulatory units. We are particularly interested in the role of microRNAs in gene expression pathways associated with disease.

  • Richard Tsien

    Richard Tsien

    George D. Smith Professor, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsWe study synaptic communication between brain cells with the goal of understanding neuronal computations and memory mechanisms. Main areas of focus include: presynaptic calcium channels, mechanisms of vesicular fusion and recycling. Modulation of synaptic strength through changes in postsynaptic receptors and dendritic morphology. Signaling that links synaptic activity to nuclear transcription and local protein translation. Techniques include imaging, electrophysiology, molecular biology.

  • Jason Tucciarone, MD, PhD

    Jason Tucciarone, MD, PhD

    Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (General Psychiatry and Psychology)

    BioJason Tucciarone, MD, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Stanford School of Medicine. A neuroscientist and psychiatrist, he leads a laboratory focused on uncovering the biological mechanisms of mental illness and developing novel therapies for mood disorders and addiction. His research centers on defining new cell types and evolutionarily conserved neural circuits involved in emotional processing, with the goal of identifying new therapeutic entry points. Using optogenetic, chemogenetic, neuroimaging, and behavioral approaches in mouse models of addiction, his lab investigates vulnerable brain circuitry underlying opioid use disorder. He also works and collaborates with the Depression Research Clinic, participating in academic and industry sponsored clinical trials investigating novel antidepressant therapies.

    Clinically, Dr. Tucciarone works in Stanford’s Neuropsychiatry Clinic, where he treats patients with complex presentations at the interface of psychiatry and neurology, with particular interest in functional neurological disorders. He also sees a small cohort of psychotherapy patients in the Individual Psychotherapy Clinic and works shifts on Stanford’s inpatient psychiatry units.

    Dr. Tucciarone completed his psychiatry training through Stanford’s Research Residency Track, where he conducted postdoctoral research under the supervision of Drs. Robert Malenka and Alan Schatzberg. During residency, his research examined neural circuits recruited during opioid withdrawal and explored strategies to enhance the anti-suicidal effects of ketamine through μ-opioid receptor partial agonism.

    He received his bachelor’s degree in biology and philosophy from Union College, followed by three years as a Post-Baccalaureate IRTA fellow at the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, where he developed MRI-reportable contrast agents to map neuronal connectivity. He then entered the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) at Stony Brook University, completing his PhD in neuroscience under the mentorship of Dr. Josh Huang at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. His doctoral work used mouse genetic approaches to dissect excitatory and inhibitory cortical circuits, with a focus on chandelier interneurons in the prefrontal cortex.

    In addition to his research and clinical work, Dr. Tucciarone is deeply committed to teaching and mentorship. During residency, he helped restructure neuroscience education for trainees and currently teaches introductory lectures on the neuroscience of addiction, PTSD, psychosis, and mood disorders. He leads resident group supervision in introductory psychodynamic psychotherapy and supervises undergraduates, medical students, residents, and clinical fellows in psychiatry clinics.

  • Alexander Eckehart Urban

    Alexander Eckehart Urban

    Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (Major Laboratories and Clinical Translational Neurosciences Incubator) and of Genetics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsComplex behavioral and neuropsychiatric phenotypes often have a strong genetic component. This genetic component is often extremely complex and difficult to dissect. The current revolution in genome technology means that we can avail ourselves to tools that make it possible for the first time to begin understanding the complex genetic and epigenetic interactions at the basis of the human mind.

  • Tulio Valdez, MD, MSc

    Tulio Valdez, MD, MSc

    Professor of Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery (OHNS) and, by courtesy, of Pediatrics

    BioDr. Tulio A Valdez is a surgeon scientist with a subspecialty interest in Pediatric Otolaryngology. He attended medical school at Universidad Javeriana in Bogota Colombia before undertaking his residency in Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery in Boston. He completed his Pediatric Otolaryngology Fellowship at Texas Children’s Hospital (2007), Houston and obtained his Master’s in Clinical and Translational Research at the University of Connecticut.

    Clinically, Dr. Valdez has an interest in pediatric sleep apnea. He has a special interest in the management of sinus disease in cystic fibrosis. Dr. Valdez has co-authored one textbook and numerous book chapters and scientific manuscripts. Dr. Valdez continues his clinical research in these areas, particularly with a focus on aerodigestive disorders.

    Scientifically, Dr. Valdez has developed various imaging methods to diagnose otitis media and cholesteatoma a middle ear condition that can lead to hearing loss. He was part of the Laser Biomedical Research Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. His research includes novel imaging modalities to better diagnose ear infections one of the most common pediatric problems. His research has now expanded to include better intraoperative imaging modalities in pediatric patients to improve surgical outcomes without the need for radiation exposure. 

    Dr. Valdez believes in multi-disciplinary collaborations to tackle medical problems and has co-invented various medical devices and surgical simulation models.

  • Keith Van Haren, MD

    Keith Van Haren, MD

    Associate Professor of Neurology and Neurological Sciences (Pediatric Neurology) and of Pediatrics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsOur research team is working to develop new treatments for children at risk of neurodegenerative diseases. We are primarily focused on multiple sclerosis and X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy, two conditions that involve inflammatory and metabolic disruption of the myelin that insulates brain cells. A key area of interest for us is how nutrient deficiencies during childhood may contribute to the disease processes and whether nutritional interventions could play a role in prevention.

  • Capucine Van Rechem

    Capucine Van Rechem

    Assistant Professor of Pathology (Pathology Research)
    On Leave from 02/01/2026 To 03/15/2026

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy long-term interest lies in understanding the impact chromatin modifiers have on disease development and progression so that more optimal therapeutic opportunities can be achieved. My laboratory explores the direct molecular impact of chromatin-modifying enzymes during cell cycle progression, and characterizes the unappreciated and unconventional roles that these chromatin factors have on cytoplasmic function such as protein synthesis.

  • Ross Daniel Venook

    Ross Daniel Venook

    Senior Lecturer of Bioengineering

    BioRoss is a Senior Lecturer in the Bioengineering department and he is the Associate Director for Engineering at the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign.

    Ross primarily co-leads undergraduate laboratory courses at Stanford—an instrumentation lab (BIOE123) and an open-ended capstone design lab sequence (BIOE141A/B)—and he supports other courses and runs hands-on workshops in the areas of prototyping and systems engineering related to medical device innovation. He enjoys the unique challenges and constraints offered by biomedical engineering projects, and he delights in the opportunity for collaborative learning in a problem-solving environment.

    An Electrical Engineer by training (Stanford BS, MS, PhD), Ross’ graduate work focused on building and applying new types of MRI hardware for interventional and device-related uses. Following a Biodesign Innovation fellowship, Ross helped to start the MRI safety program at Boston Scientific Neuromodulation, where he worked for 15 years to enable safe MRI access for patients with implanted medical devices--including collaboration across the MRI safety community to create and improve international standards.

  • Hannes Vogel MD

    Hannes Vogel MD

    Professor of Pathology and of Pediatrics (Pediatric Genetics) and, by courtesy, of Neurosurgery, Neurology and Neurological Sciences and of Comparative Medicine

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy research interests include nerve and muscle pathology, mitochondrial diseases, pediatric neurooncology, and transgenic mouse pathology.

  • Douglas Vollrath

    Douglas Vollrath

    Professor of Genetics, Emeritus

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsThe Vollrath lab works to uncover molecular mechanisms relevant to the health and pathology of the outer retina. We study metabolic and other cellular interactions between the glial-like retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and adjacent photoreceptors, with the goals of understanding the pathogenesis of photoreceptor degenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, and developing therapies.

  • Jelena Vuckovic

    Jelena Vuckovic

    Jensen Huang Professor of Global Leadership, Professor of Electrical Engineering and, by courtesy, of Applied Physics

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsJelena Vuckovic’s research interests are broadly in the areas of nanophotonics, quantum and nonlinear optics. Her lab develops semiconductor-based photonic chip-scale systems with goals to probe new regimes of light-matter interaction, as well as to enable platforms for future classical and quantum information processing technologies. She also works on transforming conventional photonics with the concept of inverse design, where optimal photonic devices are designed from scratch using computer algorithms with little to no human input. Her current projects include quantum and nonlinear optics, cavity QED, and quantum information processing with color centers in diamond and in silicon carbide, heterogeneously integrated chip-scale photonic systems, and on-chip laser driven particle accelerators.

  • Yonatan Winetraub

    Yonatan Winetraub

    Instructor, Structural Biology

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsMy interests span non-invasive imaging for early cancer diagnosis and space exploration.
    I'm focusing on utilizing Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and machine learning to create virtual histology tools to image cancer non invasively at a single cell resolution, allowing physicians to skip biopsy (read more about the research). Prior to my PhD at Stanford, I co-founded SpaceIL, a non-profit organization that launched the first private interplanetary robotic mission to the Moon launched 2019.

  • Anthony Wagner

    Anthony Wagner

    Lucie Stern Professor in the Social Sciences

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsCognitive neuroscience of memory and cognitive/executive control in young and older adults. Research interests include encoding and retrieval mechanisms; interactions between declarative, nondeclarative, and working memory; forms of cognitive control; neurocognitive aging; functional organization of prefrontal cortex, parietal cortex, and the medial temporal lobe; assessed by functional MRI, scalp and intracranial EEG, and transcranial magnetic stimulation.

  • Rebecca D. Walker

    Rebecca D. Walker

    Clinical Associate Professor, Emergency Medicine

    Current Research and Scholarly InterestsInterests include international development in emergency care, healthcare disparities, wilderness medicine, human rights, administration