Dr. Michael Fischbach

Biography

Michael Fischbach is the Liu (Liao) Family Professor of Bioengineering at Stanford University and Director of the Stanford Microbiome Therapies Initiative. He is known for his contributions to understanding the mechanisms of microbiome-host interactions and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. Fischbach's accolades include the NIH Director's Pioneer New Innovator Award, the HHMI-Simons Faculty Scholars Award, and several others recognizing his innovative research and contributions to medical science. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from Harvard University in 2007, focusing on bacterial pathogenesis and antibiotic biosynthesis. Prior to joining Stanford in 2017, Fischbach was an independent fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital and a faculty member at UCSF. His research group studies the extraordinary properties of microbiomes, including their roles in immune modulation and metabolic processes. He also explores strain-level interactions and the potential for cell and gene therapies to treat disease. Additionally, Fischbach is a co-founder of Revolution Medicines and Azalea, and serves on scientific advisory boards for several initiatives. His lab employs a combination of community-level and strain-level studies to unravel complex biological interactions and develop effective therapeutic approaches.

Research Interests

Courses