Hansell H. Stedman, MD, is a Professor of Surgery at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. His research expertise lies in the fields of Genetics and Comparative Genomics, focusing on contractile proteins and integrative biology, particularly skeletal and cardiac muscle. He is actively engaged in pathobiology and therapy, with particular attention to muscular dystrophy and cardiomyopathy. Stedman’s lab investigates the mechanisms behind heritable and acquired diseases affecting muscle, including the understanding of myosin as a central muscle protein and its evolutionary constraints. His research has discovered mutations in human ancestors that provide insights into the evolution of muscle diseases. His laboratory is also pioneering gene transfer technologies that offer promising therapeutic pathways for muscular dystrophies and other muscle-related conditions. He has made substantial progress utilizing developments in microvascular physiology and endothelial cell biology and has directed numerous collaborative projects, underscoring his commitment to innovative translational research. Stedman's clinical expertise includes general and gastrointestinal surgery, emergency interventions, and complex abdominal wall reconstructions.