Steven Farber

Steven Farber is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Johns Hopkins University's Krieger School of Arts & Sciences, and Director of the CMDB Graduate Program. His research focuses on lipid metabolism using zebrafish models, particularly investigating intestinal and hepatic lipid processing, atherosclerosis mechanisms, and metabolic disorders. Farber pioneered the LipoGlo system to visualize lipoproteins in live zebrafish, enabling drug screening and genetic studies.

• Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Rutgers), M.S. in Technology & Policy (MIT), Ph.D. in Molecular Neurobiology (MIT).
• Postdoctoral training at Carnegie Institution for Science with Marnie Halpern.

Research interests include lipid transport, mitochondrial disease modeling, and the role of the gut microbiome in metabolic health. The Farber Lab has developed tools like the LipoTimer for real-time lipoprotein tracking and the 'dark yolk' genetic screening approach to identify lipid-regulating genes. Farber also leads BioEYES, a global K-12 science outreach program using zebrafish to engage students in genetics and experimental science, reaching over 165,000 children annually.

Notable achievements include the 2020 ASCB Bruce Alberts Award for Excellence in Science Education. Collaborations span institutions like Mayo Clinic (mitochondrial disease studies) and the Ludington Lab (microbiome research). Current projects explore lipoprotein turnover, cinnamon oil's metabolic effects, and liver-specific therapies for mitochondrial disorders.

• Key Lab Technologies: Superfusion intestine assays, photoconvertible fluorescent reporters, high-throughput drug screening platforms.
• Clinical Impact: Identifying therapeutic targets for cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.