Stephen T Smale

Stephen T. Smale is a Professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, holding appointments in the David Geffen School of Medicine and the College of Letters and Science. He leads the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, with a research focus on molecular immunology, gene regulation, and stem cell biology.

• Ph.D. in Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley (1986)
• B.A. in Chemistry, Cornell University (1981)

His research investigates the molecular logic of pro-inflammatory gene regulation, emphasizing the roles of transcription factors like NF-κB and Ikaros, chromatin dynamics, and signaling pathways in immune responses. Recent work explores evolutionary divergence of NF-κB family members, lipid metabolism reprogramming during inflammation, and transcriptional mechanisms in stem cells.

Key publication trends include transcriptional regulation in inflammation, chromatin remodeling during immune activation, metabolic-immune interactions, and single-cell transcriptional analysis. His lab's output spans high-impact journals like Nature Immunology, Cell, and Genes & Development.

• Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (2020)
• Sherie L. and Donald G. Morrison Chair in Molecular Immunology (2014–present)
• Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (1990–2007)
• Graduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation (1982–1986)

Smale has held leadership roles including Vice Dean for Research in the David Geffen School of Medicine and Director of the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center's Basic and Translational Research. His mentorship extends to collaborative networks in immunity, inflammation, and stem cell research.