A glimpse into the Program in Human Biology at Stanford University | | | |
Director's Message
Dear Human Biology community,
As the fall quarter comes to a close, I am pleased to share the latest edition of HumBio Highlights with you.
It has been a rewarding and inspiring start to the 2025-26 academic year, filled with new connections, engaging courses, and exciting accomplishments and projects across our community. I continue to be impressed by the dedication and creativity of our students, faculty, and staff. I hope you enjoy reading this next edition of our newsletter.
On behalf of the entire team here in HumBio, we wish you and your loved ones a happy holiday and all the best for the new year.
Will Talbot
Bing Director of the Program in Human Biology
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Curtis Langlotz ‘81 on Enhancing Medical Care through AI Innovation
In a recent Stanford Report, HumBio alumnus Curtis Langlotz ‘81 discusses his work developing AI-powered systems that assist both medical experts and patients in improving care for various diseases. Leading the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine and Imaging at Stanford Medicine, Langlotz and his colleagues from across campus are training these models using high-quality medical data to streamline diagnostic processes and enhance patient outcomes. "We have a really special environment with the data to train these algorithms and the expertise to build the highest performing tools," he told the Stanford Report. "And we have not only computer scientists and medical professionals, but also ethicists and legal scholars to help us implement these new tools safely and responsibly."
Photo credit: Andrew Brodhead
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Laura Carstensen: The Best Years of Your Life are Probably Still Ahead
Contrary to the popular belief that the best years of life are in one’s youth, Dr. Laura Carstensen argues that individuals actually experience improved emotional well-being as they age, particularly from their 40s through their 70s. As she explains in this Time Magazine piece, they also have greater relationship satisfaction and fewer negative emotions. Carstensen also emphasizes the value of fostering intergenerational friendships and the importance of rethinking societal structures to support longer lifespans.
Carstensen is a professor of psychology, the Fairleigh S. Dickinson Jr. Professor in Public Policy, and the founding director of the Stanford Center on Longevity. In HumBio, she co-teaches HumBio 149L, Longevity with Dr. Deborah Kado.
Photo credit: Andrew Brodhead
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From HumBio to Food Policy – And Back Again
When Anna Grummon graduated from Stanford’s Human Biology Program in 2011, she carried with her a deep appreciation for the community that helped launch her interest in public health. After more than a decade spent deepening her knowledge through graduate study, teaching, and research, Grummon’s return to Stanford as an assistant professor and the Director of the Stanford Food Policy Lab feels less like a surprise and more like a homecoming. In addition to her research, she now guides the next generation of HumBio students through the complexities of public health and food policy. Read more.
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Transforming the Clinical Research Landscape with AI
We’ve all seen the movies, from The Terminator to I, Robot, to WALL-E, that depict artificial intelligence (AI) as an all-powerful tool that rises against humanity or hinders our growth and development. As generative AI has rapidly evolved in recent years, discussions about its uses and effects have become increasingly divided. Some herald its potential, while others worry about its effects on cognitive development and health, potential job displacement, misinformation, and environmental impacts. Amid these fears, it is equally important to explore how this AI can enhance our capabilities and streamline work. Dr. Kristin Sainani, a professor of Epidemiology and Population Health, takes an optimistic approach, inviting us to consider AI’s potential to enhance critical and creative thinking in fields like clinical research. Read more.
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Human Biology’s committed faculty come from across the School of Humanities and Sciences and the Medical School. Our faculty have long been at the forefront of groundbreaking research, innovation, and creativity.
Expand your knowledge, build on your HumBio degree, and learn from these leading scholars from the comfort of your own home in these recorded presentations, panels, and seminars. You never know what you might discover!
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Anne Friedlander: Body Hacking Using Exercise Physiology to Slow Aging
Drawing on her extensive research in exercise physiology, Dr. Friedlander explores targeted exercise strategies that can “hack” the aging process. From cardiovascular benefits to cognitive enhancement to maintaining muscle mass and bone density, Friedlander highlights the transformative power of physical activity in promoting healthy aging and improving quality of life for older adults.
Dr. Anne Friedlander is an adjunct professor in Human Biology and assistant director of Stanford Lifestyle Medicine. She teaches HumBio 35, Your Body at Stanford: The Physiology of College, and HumBio 135, Exercise Physiology. Friedlander also serves as the chair of Human Biology’s curriculum committee and advises HumBio students.
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Heidi Feldman: The Future of Pediatric Development and Disability
The landscape of understanding and treating child development and childhood disabilities such as autism, attention deficit disorder, and learning disorders is rapidly changing. Drawing on her extensive research in developmental pediatrics, Feldman explores the shift from institutionalization to more integrative, family- and community-centered approaches, arguing that this personal and human contact is key to future treatment.
Dr. Heidi Feldman is the Ballinger-Swindells Endowed Professor of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Her research interests include language and cognition after preterm birth and improving the delivery of health care to all children with developmental and behavioral disorders. She advises and mentors students pursuing research in the HumBio program.
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