Chris Garcia

Chris Garcia is the Younger Family Professor and Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology at Stanford University School of Medicine. He is also an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, reflecting his leadership in biomedical research. His lab is a member of several interdisciplinary institutes including Bio-X, Stanford Cancer Institute, and Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute.

His research focuses on the structural and functional mechanisms of receptor-ligand interactions, especially in immune and nervous systems. Using structural biology, protein engineering, and molecular biology, his team investigates T cell receptors, cytokines, host-pathogen interfaces, and neural guidance molecules, with therapeutic applications in immunotherapy and regenerative medicine.

Recent publications highlight innovative approaches such as de novo TCR mimics, cytokine adaptors that reprogram immune signals, and deep learning-based design of pMHC binders. His work bridges structural insights with functional outcomes, enabling the development of novel therapeutics.

Dr. Garcia mentors a large group of postdoctoral fellows and graduate students and teaches across multiple PhD programs at Stanford, including Immunology, Biophysics, and Structural Biology.

He has received no explicitly mentioned scientific awards in the provided text, but his HHMI Investigator status is a major honor. He leads multiple research grants and clinical trials, including studies on influenza immunity and immune receptor engineering.

The Garcia Lab operates at the Beckman Center at Stanford, with a strong focus on interdisciplinary collaboration and training the next generation of scientists.