Our Mission

Have you ever wondered what makes the human brain so unique, capable of abstract thought, creativity, and complex behavior? This remarkable capacity is rooted in the brain’s rich cell types and the diverse synaptic connections between them, which take decades to fully develop.

At the Human Brain Development Lab at Stanford University, we investigate how the remarkable diversity of brain cells and synapses emerges during development and evolution, and how these processes are disrupted in neurological disorders and brain cancer. We integrate single-cell and spatial genomics, lineage tracing, perturbation screening, synaptic proteomics, and machine learning models to uncover the molecular logic governing neural identity, lineage, and connectivity.

Our ultimate goal is to deepen our understanding of human brain development and translate these insights into precision therapies for neurodevelopmental disorders and brain cancer.

Join Us

We’re excited to welcome passionate students, postdocs, and research staff who want to push the frontiers of human brain development and function using cutting-edge tools. Explore opportunities on our Join Us page!

Contact Us

We are located at the first floor of the Lorry I. Lokey Stem Cell Research Building at Stanford University.

Email: li.wang2@stanford.edu