Merritt Maduke

Merritt Maduke is a Professor at Stanford University with joint appointments in the Bio-X, Cardiovascular Institute, and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. As Associate Director of the Molecular and Cellular Physiology Graduate Program and Co-director of the Neurosciences Interdisciplinary Graduate Program since 2021, she plays leadership roles in graduate education. Her laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms of ion channels and transporters, particularly the CLC family, through biophysical methods and electrophysiological analyses.

• PhD in Chemistry & Biochemistry from UCSD (1995)
• BS in Chemistry from Wheaton College (1989)

Research interests span chloride-channel function, ultrasound neuromodulation, and ion-transport mechanisms. Key projects include developing AK-42 as a specific CLC-2 inhibitor, structural analysis of CLC-Ka inhibitors, and interdisciplinary studies on ultrasound effects with collaborators across Neurology, Bioengineering, and Radiology. Recent publications focus on cryoEM structures of CLC-2 and LRRC8A channels as cGAMP transporters.

Scientific contributions recognized through:

• Cranefield Award, Society of General Physiologists (2008)
• Spark Scholar, Stanford University (2010)
• Faculty Scholar, Esther Ehrman Lazard Foundation (2003-2005)
• Scientist Development Award, American Heart Association (2004-2007)

As Doctoral Dissertation Reader and Postdoctoral Faculty Sponsor, Maduke mentors students including Suzanna Bennett, Colin Muir, and Anindita Das. She leads the Biophysics Colab and serves on editorial boards of Biophysical Journal and eLife. Collaborations span Justin Du Bois (Chemistry), Ron Dror (Computer Science), and John Huguenard (Neurology).