Dr. William Nelson

Biography

William Nelson is a Professor Emeritus in the School of Medicine at Stanford University, with a focus on understanding the cellular mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of epithelial cell polarity. His research emphasizes the importance of polarized epithelial cells, which are crucial for the function of various tissues and organs. Recent investigations have revealed that the establishment of epithelial cell polarity is a multistage process that requires instructive extracellular cues, such as cell-cell and cell-substratum contact, as well as the reorganization of proteins in the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. Nelson has developed strategies to address the molecular and biochemical aspects of the mechanisms involved in these processes. His work includes the analysis of membrane and cytoplasmic protein sorting and targeting in established cell lines of polarized renal epithelia, as well as conducting structural and functional analyses of cell adhesion in epithelial cells. His contributions have been instrumental in furthering the understanding of the role of cell adhesion in establishing the molecular machinery necessary for cellular processes.

Research Interests

Courses