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Viviana Gradinaru is the Lois Victor Troendle Professor of Neuroscience and Biological Engineering at the California Institute of Technology, where she also serves as the Director of the Center for Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience. With a Ph.D. from Stanford University and extensive experience in neurotechnology, her research focuses on developing innovative methods for studying and repairing the nervous system. Over her 15 years in the field, she has pioneered techniques for functional and anatomical access to vertebrate nervous systems, including the engineering of viral vectors for gene delivery and the application of optogenetic tools for neuronal activity control. Gradinaru's lab has successfully developed adeno-associated viral vectors that can cross the blood-brain barrier, enabling sophisticated studies of neural circuits associated with behavior and neurological disorders. She has received numerous accolades, including the NIH Director's Innovator Pioneer Award and the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science. Her work has resulted in over 100 publications and approximately 30,000 citations, demonstrating her significant impact on neuroscience and gene delivery technologies.
California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA
Served as a faculty member in the Department of Biology and Department of Biological Engineering, engaging in teaching and research.
California Institute of Technology • Pasadena, CA
Promoted to a distinguished professorship focusing on leading groundbreaking research in neuroscience.
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