Steve Kay

Dr. Steve Kay is a University and Provost Professor of Neurology, Cancer Biology, Biomedical Engineering, and Biological Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He holds the David L. Lee and Simon Ramo Chair in Health Science and Technology and serves as Director of the MESH Academy and USC Michelson Center for Convergent Bioscience. Previously, he was Dean of USC Dornsife College (2012–2015) and President of The Scripps Research Institute (2015–2016). His research focuses on circadian rhythms, plant genetics, and their applications in cancer therapy and drug development.

Education:

• PhD and DSc from the University of Bristol, UK

Research Interests: Circadian rhythms are central to Dr. Kay’s work, exploring their role in health, disease, and cancer. He investigates how genetic and environmental factors influence biological clocks, with applications in developing targeted therapies for glioblastoma and other cancers. His lab also studies plant circadian mechanisms, particularly nitrate transport and stress responses.

Publications: His 200+ papers span circadian biology, cancer, and plant science. Recent work highlights circadian-based therapies, clock protein modulators, and the role of BMAL1 in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Awards:

• National Academy of Sciences Member (2008)
• AAAS Fellow (2009)
• Martin Gibbs Medal (2011)
• Thomson Reuters’ Most Influential Scientific Minds (2014–2017)

Grants & Labs: He leads the Kay Laboratory at USC, focusing on translational research. His work bridges academia and industry, founding biotech companies to advance circadian medicine.