David Relman

David Relman 2018 (cropped)

David Relman is an American microbiologist and infectious disease specialist. He is a professor of medicine and microbiology at Stanford University, where he has made significant contributions to the understanding of the human microbiome and its role in health and disease.

Early Life and Education

David Relman was born in New York City. He completed his undergraduate studies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and earned his M.D. from Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Stanford University.

Career

Relman joined the faculty at Stanford University, where he holds appointments in the Departments of Medicine and Microbiology and Immunology. He is also a member of the Stanford Bio-X interdisciplinary biosciences institute and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment.

Research

Relman's research focuses on the human microbiome, the collection of microorganisms that live in and on the human body. His work has helped to elucidate the complex relationships between these microorganisms and their human hosts, and how these relationships impact health and disease. He has published extensively on the role of the microbiome in conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, and infectious diseases.

Contributions to Science

Relman is known for his pioneering use of molecular biology techniques to study the human microbiome. He has developed methods for identifying and characterizing previously unknown microorganisms and has used these techniques to explore the diversity of the human microbiome. His work has led to a greater understanding of the role of the microbiome in health and disease and has opened new avenues for the development of microbiome-based therapies.

Awards and Honors

Relman has received numerous awards for his contributions to science, including the Institute of Medicine (now the National Academy of Medicine) membership and the American Academy of Microbiology fellowship. He has also served on several national and international advisory panels on infectious diseases and biodefense.

Personal Life

David Relman resides in California with his family. He is an avid outdoorsman and enjoys hiking and skiing in his free time.

See Also

• Microbiome
• Infectious disease
• Stanford University
• Molecular biology