K. Christopher Garcia, PhD Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology and Structural Biology Biography K. Christopher Garcia is a leading scientist studying the structural biology of cytokine receptor recognition and activation, and probing cytokine signaling mechanisms using protein engineering. Dr. Garcia’s laboratory also has a longstanding interest in the structural biology of adaptive immunity, mainly focused on understanding on how the T cell receptor recognizes MHC molecules. Dr. Garcia was elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2012 and has been a Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and of Structural Biology at Stanford University School of Medicine since 1999, and an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute since 2005. There he has identified new paradigms for recognition and activation of a variety of receptors that play critical roles in autoimmunity, cancer, neural growth and repair, and blood pressure regulation. Education & Training Tulane University, BS The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, PhD Awards & Honors 2016: Elected to National Academy of Medicine 2013: NIH MERIT award 2012: Elected to National Academy of Sciences 2005: Named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator 2004: Established Investigator of the American Heart Association 2002: Keck Distinguished Medical Scholar 2001: Pew Scholar 2000: Cancer Research Institute New Investigator Award 1999: American Heart Association New Investigator Award 1999: Rita Allen Foundation Scholar 1999: Frederick J. Terman Junior Faculty Award 1999: March of Dimes Basil O’Connor Award