Mikhail G. Shapiro

Mikhail G. Shapiro is the Max Delbrück Professor of Chemical Engineering and Medical Engineering at the California Institute of Technology and an HHMI Investigator. He directs the Center for Molecular and Cellular Medicine at Caltech, focusing on developing molecular technologies for noninvasive imaging and control of cellular function.

His research integrates molecular and cellular engineering with biophysical methods like ultrasound and magnetic resonance to image and manipulate biological processes in neuroscience, cancer, and synthetic biology. Key innovations include acoustic reporter genes, ultrasound-controlled gene circuits, and gas vesicle-based imaging agents.

Dr. Shapiro's recent publications highlight advancements in ultrafast ultrasound imaging, acoustic microrobotics, and thermal control of cellular therapies. He applies these technologies to problems in brain-machine interfaces, tumor targeting, and microbiome engineering.

• HHMI Investigator (2021)
• Roger Tsien Award for Excellence in Chemical Biology (2021)
• Packard Fellowship (2018)
• Vilcek Foundation Prize (2018)
• Clauser Doctoral Prize (advised)
• NIH BRAIN Initiative Funding

His lab collaborates with institutions including MIT, USC, and the Heritage Medical Research Institute. Students like Pradeep Ramesh, Dan Piraner, and Anupama Lakshmanan have received recognition for their work. Caltech's Center for Molecular and Cellular Medicine serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research under his leadership.