Helen M. Blau

Helen Margaret Blau was born in London, England, and grew up in Europe. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of York and a master’s degree and a PhD in biology from Harvard University. She was a postdoctoral fellow in the division of medical genetics at the University of California, San Francisco.

Blau joined the faculty at Stanford University in 1978 — one of the first women to be hired on the tenure track in the basic sciences — and is currently director of the Baxter Laboratory for Stem Cell Biology.

Her groundbreaking work on cellular plasticity and subsequent discoveries of the biological mechanisms of stem cells, tissue regeneration, and aging and rejuvenation of weakened muscles have led to advances in stem cell–based therapies and regenerative medicine. “The idea that discoveries in my lab can be translated to clinical therapies to help people is the most gratifying feeling in the world,” Blau told the Stanford Report.

Beyond her research achievements, she is known as a prolific inventor, holding numerous patents, as well as a mentor to younger scientists. In January 2025, President Biden awarded Blau the National Medal of Science, the highest recognition the country confers on scientists and engineers.