Stephen Lawrence Zipursky

Stephen Lawrence Zipursky, Ph.D. is a Professor of Biological Chemistry at the UCLA School of Medicine, where he holds the prestigious Jerome J. Belzer Chair for Medical Research. His research program focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying neural circuit assembly, with particular emphasis on how cell surface molecules guide wiring of the nervous system.

Dr. Zipursky's research interests center on neural development and circuit formation, investigating how neurons recognize appropriate partners during brain development. His laboratory has made seminal contributions to understanding DSCAM (Down Syndrome Cell Adhesion Molecule) proteins and protocadherins, which provide molecular diversity enabling neurons to distinguish self from non-self during circuit assembly. His work bridges molecular biology, neurobiology, and genetics using Drosophila as a primary model system.

Analysis of his publication record reveals a consistent focus on molecular mechanisms of neural connectivity, with early work on cell cycle regulation in Drosophila eye development evolving into groundbreaking research on molecular diversity in neural recognition systems. His most influential papers have established foundational principles in how molecular recognition codes govern neural circuit assembly.

Scientific Recognition:

• Jerome J. Belzer Chair for Medical Research

Dr. Zipursky has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows who have gone on to establish independent research careers. His laboratory has been consistently supported by NIH funding, including participation in UCLA's NIH T32 Training Grants in bioscience research. His conceptual frameworks on molecular diversity in neural recognition have shaped the field of neurodevelopment.

His laboratory is part of UCLA's vibrant neuroscience community, collaborating with researchers across the campus including those in the Departments of Neurobiology, Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, and the Brain Research Institute. Current research continues to explore the relationship between molecular diversity and neural circuit complexity in both invertebrate and vertebrate systems.