Salman Banani

Salman Banani is an Assistant Professor of Pathology at the University of Chicago, specializing in biomolecular condensation and cellular organization. His research explores how phase separation enables cells to compartmentalize biochemical reactions and how its disruption contributes to diseases like cancer and genetic disorders.

• University of California, Berkeley – B.S. in Chemical Biology
• University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center – M.D. and Ph.D. in Molecular Biophysics
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Residency in Clinical Pathology

His lab investigates condensates through cell biology, genetics, and biophysics, focusing on their roles in transcriptional regulation, DNA repair, and disease pathology. Publications highlight the interplay between RNA dynamics, protein phase transitions, and genetic variation in condensate dysfunction.

Banani's work has been cited over 2,200 times, with landmark studies on phase-separated cellular bodies and transcription factor interactions. His research bridges biomedical science and physics, supported by affiliations with the Center for the Physics of Evolving Systems.

The Banani Lab at the University of Chicago collaborates across disciplines, studying condensates in contexts ranging from embryology to chemoresistance. The lab emphasizes interdisciplinary approaches, integrating insights from pathology, molecular biophysics, and clinical medicine.