Ari Molofsky

Dr. Ari Molofsky is an Associate Professor at UCSF in the Department of Laboratory Medicine. Trained as an MD/PhD with a clinical specialization in Hematopathology, his primary focus is leading a basic research laboratory that works at the intersection of immunology and tissue homeostasis and pathology. Dr. Molofsky’s research group uses foundational models to study organ development and remodeling, with a particular focus on stromal - immune niches. Their research focus includes studies that span brain, lung, liver, adipose tissue, skin, and intestine. To determine the in vivo function and interactions of immune cells, the Molofsky lab uses murine cytokine reporter tools, volumetric and quantitative confocal microscopy with tissue clearing, single cell/spatial RNA-single sequencing, and pathologic tissue perturbations. Their long-term research goal is to elucidate the dynamic ‘immune-stromal topography’ of healthy and diseased organs. Dr. Molofsky believes that foundational knowledge will intelligently inform therapeutic targeting of tissue-resident immune cells and their stromal niche partners to ultimately build (or rebuild) healthy tissue structure, improving human health span and alleviating disease. Mentorship and teaching are also central aspects of Dr. Molofsky’s work, where he is dedicated to training and educating the next generation of biomedical scientists and clinicians at UCSF and within the broader international scientific community.