Shang Ma, Ph.D.

Shang Ma, Ph.D., received his bachelor’s degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, with a major in genetics. He earned his Ph.D. in cellular and molecular biology from the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where he focused on chemical signaling pathways that mediate mammalian brain development. In 2015, Dr. Ma joined Dr. Ardem Patapoutian’s group at Scripps Research to study how cells sense mechanical forces during disease pathogenesis. During this postdoctoral training, he discovered that overactive PIEZO mechanosensitive ion channels play important roles in various human disorders.

In 2022, Dr. Ma joined the faculty of Children’s Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern as an Assistant Professor. He holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Pediatrics.