Stephen G. Sligar

Stephen G. Sligar is a Research Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois, where he holds the Swanlund Endowed Chair. He leads the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology and is affiliated with the Center for Biophysics and Computational Biology, Beckman Institute, and Micro/Nano Technology Laboratory. His research focuses on membrane proteins, cytochrome P450 catalysis, cancer signaling, and neurodegeneration, leveraging nanotechnology and nanodisc systems. He has pioneered the development of nanodisc technology for membrane protein studies, enabling high-resolution structural and functional analysis.

Education: PhD in Physics from the University of Illinois (1975), postdoctoral training at Yale University (1982). Awards include National Academy of Sciences membership, Christian Anfinsen Award, and NIH Merit Award. His work spans over 400 publications and has led to startups like SMPL Solutions LLC for drug discovery.

Research interests include understanding oxygenase mechanisms, membrane protein assemblies, and therapeutic development for diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer. His lab investigates KRas4b signaling in cancer and Aβ oligomer interactions in neurodegeneration. Collaborations with Northwestern University and others drive advancements in nanodisc-based drug screening.

Grants and funding include NIH, NSF, and Human Frontiers Program support. His lab includes senior researchers, graduate students (48 PhD advisees), and postdocs. Future work targets improving nanodisc applications, elucidating P450 mechanisms, and advancing therapies for metabolic and neurological disorders.