Phil Newmark

Phil Newmark is the Burnell R. Roberts Chair in Regenerative Biology, an Investigator at the Morgridge Institute for Research, and Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI).

Education:

• BA, Biology – Boston University
• PhD, Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology – University of Colorado at Boulder

Research Interests:
Phil Newmark’s laboratory uses planarian flatworms and parasitic flatworms (schistosomes and tapeworms) to uncover the cellular and molecular basis of regeneration, stem cell regulation, and germ cell development. By understanding how stem cells are instructed to replace missing tissues and organs, the lab aims to inform regenerative medicine. In parallel, insights gained from planarian biology are leveraged to devise new strategies against schistosomiasis and other neglected tropical diseases affecting hundreds of millions of people.

Awards & Honors:

• Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
• NSF CAREER Award
• Damon Runyon Scholar, Damon Runyon Cancer Research Foundation
• University Scholar, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science

Advising & Training:
Over the past two decades, the Newmark/Issigonis laboratory has trained a vibrant community of early-career scientists including 10 PhD students, 11 postdocs, numerous technicians, and undergraduates. Alumni now hold faculty positions and leadership roles in academia and industry, reflecting the lab’s commitment to mentorship.

Laboratory Resources:
The Newmark/Issigonis Lab houses cutting-edge facilities for molecular cell biology, functional genomics, and high-throughput screening. The team maintains extensive planarian and parasite cultures and has generated comprehensive genetic and genomic resources now shared worldwide through repositories such as Addgene.