Irving Weissman

Irving Weissman is the Virginia & D.K. Ludwig Professor of Clinical Investigation in Cancer Research and Professor of Pathology and Developmental Biology at Stanford University. He serves as Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine (2003-2022) and holds memberships in multiple Stanford institutes including Bio-X, Cardiovascular Institute, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and Stanford Cancer Institute.

• MD, Stanford University (1965)
• BS, Montana State College (1961)

Dr. Weissman's research spans stem cell biology, cancer immunology, and neurodegenerative disease modeling. His lab discovered:

• First identification of mouse and human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)
• Clonal evolution from HSC to leukemia stem cells
• CD47's role as 'don't eat me' signal in cancer
• Neural cell death mechanisms in colonial tunicates
• Vascular stem cell co-transplantation for ischemic rescue

His recent publications focus on:

• CD47-SIRPα axis in platelet homeostasis
• Neural stem cell lineage characterization
• Immune surveillance in acute myeloid leukemia
• Stem cell aging and precancer pathways
• Advanced vascular regeneration techniques

Scientific Honors:

• Member, National Academy of Sciences
• Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• Over 20 major awards (1989-2011)
• Multiple honorary doctorates
• Founding roles in 8 biotech companies

Dr. Weissman has mentored hundreds of students including:

• Postdoctoral fellows
• PhD candidates
• Medical student-scientists
• Graduate researchers

His lab at Hopkins Marine Station investigates:

• Protochordate histocompatibility systems
• Stem cell transfer between organisms
• Evolution of innate immune surveillance