Iain Clark

Iain Clark is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on developing innovative microfluidic and molecular tools for high-throughput single-cell analysis, with applications in understanding HIV latency and central nervous system (CNS) inflammation. He holds office hours in Stanley Hall and leads the Clark Lab, which integrates bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, and systems biology to address complex biological questions.

• Current Role: Assistant Professor, Bioengineering
• Institution: University of California, Berkeley
• Lab: Clark Lab

Research Interests: The Clark Lab specializes in creating advanced microfluidic platforms for studying cellular interactions at single-cell resolution. Their work bridges bioinstrumentation, biomaterials, and systems biology to investigate:

• HIV latency mechanisms in CD4 T cells
• Epigenetic memory in astrocytes during CNS inflammation
• Cell-cell communication in neuroinflammatory diseases
• High-throughput CRISPR screening for functional genomics

Recent Publications: Clark's research demonstrates a consistent focus on single-cell technologies, particularly in virology (HIV) and neuroscience (CNS inflammation). Key trends include:

• Development of microfluidic-free single-cell sequencing methods
• Characterization of disease-associated epigenetic changes in astrocytes
• Integration of multi-omic approaches for leukemia and HIV reservoir analysis
• Innovations in droplet-based functional screening platforms

Laboratory Highlights: The Clark Lab has pioneered techniques like FIND-seq for rare cell transcriptomics and SPEAC-seq for CRISPR-based interaction screening. Their work on astrocyte-microglia cross-talk and HIV reservoir characterization provides critical insights into infectious and neurodegenerative diseases.