The object
Stephen R. Quake invented integrated microfluidic systems that use networks of tiny valves and channels to automate biological experiments on a chip. Stanford documents his measurement tools and microfluidic automation for isolating individual cells, while its microfluidics foundry history describes miniature cell-culture and screening chips.
01
What Stephen did
Invented microfluidic automation and large-scale integrated lab-on-a-chip systems for biology.
02
Why it matters
Quake's valve-based microfluidic integration made complex laboratory workflows physically compact, programmable and economical in sample and reagent use.
03
Living-status check
Stanford Medicine's current 2025-26 faculty profile lists Quake as professor, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub co-president and active instructor.