Department of Physiology and Biophysics

Jian Feng, PhD, professor of physiology and biophysics, is internationally regarded for his research on stem cell biology and Parkinson’s disease. His research focuses on the vulnerability of human nigral dopaminergic neurons, with the goal of finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Specifically, he studies how mutations of the parkin gene cause the disease. Feng is widely known for using human induced pluripotent stem cells to study the role that parkin plays in Parkinson’s disease. His outstanding research has led to a number of patent applications and inventions. He has also collaborated with fellow scholars to investigate other diseases, including Alzheimer’s. In 2022, the Society for Experimental Biology and Medicine selected his work to be recognized with their prestigious Best Paper Award.