David Schaffer

David Schaffer is a Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Bioengineering, and Neuroscience at UC Berkeley. He directs the Berkeley Stem Cell Center and QB3-Berkeley. His research integrates engineering principles with biology to advance stem cell therapies and gene delivery systems. Key affiliations include the Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute and the Bioengineering Graduate Group.

Education: B.S. Chemical Engineering (Stanford, 1993); Ph.D. Chemical Engineering (MIT, 1998, minor in Molecular & Cell Biology); postdoctoral training at the Salk Institute (1998–1999).

Research focuses on: (1) Stem cell regulation in 3D biomaterial environments, including optogenetic control of neural stem cell fate; (2) Directed evolution of AAV vectors for enhanced gene therapy efficacy, with clinical applications in retinal diseases and neurodegenerative disorders; (3) Mechanosensitive stem cell behavior in biophysical microenvironments. Notable innovations include optogenetic tools for signal patterning and novel thermoresponsive polymers for stem cell culture.

Publications emphasize AAV engineering, mechanobiology of stem cells, and combinatorial hydrogel systems. Collaborations span academia and industry, with work transitioning to clinical trials for ocular and CNS therapies. Current lab efforts include machine learning-driven vector design and scalable stem cell manufacturing platforms.

Labs/Teams: Schaffer Lab (Stem Cell & Gene Therapeutics), part of the Berkeley Stem Cell Center and QB3. Active in training interdisciplinary researchers at the engineering-biology interface.