Covid-19 Research Recovery
Molecular and Cellular Physiology
Understanding Cell Signaling and Behavior
In the Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology (MCP), we strive to reveal how proteins and cells work and how they interact. MCP scientists tackle open problems in cell and tissue biology, immunology, and neuroscience. Drawing on concepts, techniques and principles from multiple fields, such as biophysics, computational biology, genetics, and structural biology, we develop a next generation of scientists skilled in interdisciplinary research, mentoring, and communication. We believe that innovation thrives within dynamic and diverse research communities and, thus, welcome people whose experience, research, or community engagement has prepared them to enhance this commitment to diversity and excellence.
Today, MCP hosts more than 100 graduate students and postdoctoral scholars distributed across 13 faculty labs. Students join MCP labs from several biosciences home programs, including the one sponsored by MCP. Postdoctoral scholars join the department after earning PhDs in a variety of scientific disciplines and from universities across the nation and the world. Seven MCP faculty belong to the National Academy of Science, three hold Nobel Prizes (each one in a different area), four are immigrants, and the current chair holds a Landis Award for Outstanding Mentoring. Former MCP trainees apply their scientific training as leaders of independent research groups in academia and in industry, and as lawyers, entrepreneurs, company founders, technology investors, and policy makers.
Read more about our MCP Community and our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
Research News & Notable Events
-
$1.49 million for inflammation research
The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has awarded $1.49 million to research projects involving Stanford Medicine scientists who will investigate emerging ideas about the role of inflammation in disease.
-
New members of the National Academy of Sciences
Howard Chang of dermatology and of genetics, Richard Lewis of molecular and cellular physiology, and Peter Sarnow of microbiology and immunology were elected to the National Academy of Sciences.
-
Forgotten immune cells slow MS in mice
Stanford researchers have identified immune cells that help reduce the severity of a disease in mice akin to multiple sclerosis. These cells could one day be useful therapeutic targets in treating autoimmune diseases.
- – NINDS announces 2019 winners of the Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship
NINDS announces 2019 winners of the Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Congratulations to Prof. Miriam Goodman on receiving the midcareer Landis Award for Outstanding Mentorship from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
- – Stanford News
Undergrad in MCP lab wins Kennedy Prize for best natural sciences thesis
Thirty-eight Stanford graduating seniors were recently recognized for their honors theses. Each was awarded a bronze medal, citation and a monetary award.
- – Stanford Medicine
Inside a lab using worms to explore the sense of touch
The study of a tiny worm is giving researchers in the neuroscience lab of Miriam Goodman, PhD, clues into all the aspects of our sense of touch.