Richard Lewis

Dr. Richard Lewis was a Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology at Stanford University, where he is also a member of Bio-X and the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of calcium signaling through store-operated Ca²⁺ channels (SOCs), particularly the CRAC channel, which is crucial for T cell function and immune responses. Dr. Lewis's laboratory investigates how the depletion of Ca²⁺ from the endoplasmic reticulum triggers the opening of CRAC channels in the plasma membrane, utilizing techniques such as protein engineering, patch-clamp electrophysiology, and advanced live-cell imaging. He has received numerous honors, including election to the National Academy of Sciences in 2020 and the Kenneth S. Cole Award from the Biophysical Society in 2021. Additionally, Dr. Lewis is actively involved in graduate education as the Director of Graduate Studies in Molecular and Cellular Physiology, contributing to the training of the next generation of scientists.

Education

• B.S., Yale University, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry (1978)
• Ph.D., California Inst. of Technology, Neurobiology (1985)