Stowers Institute recruits renowned developmental and evolutionary biologist from HHMI's Janelia Research Campus

David Stern, Ph.D., brings groundbreaking research on insect–plant interactions for next-generation pest control to the Institute

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  , Sept. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Some of nature's most important secrets are hidden in plain sight. David Stern, Ph.D., has spent his career unlocking such mysteries, from fruit fly genetics to the proteins insects use to hijack plants. The Stowers Institute for Medical Research is proud to announce Stern's appointment as Investigator. Stern, a Senior Group Leader at Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia campus since 2011, will move his lab and HHMI appointment to Kansas City in February 2026.

Stern and his lab pioneered research behind the battle between plants and the insects that feed on them. The lab discovered a new family of proteins called "bicycle proteins" that trick plants into growing protective homes, or galls, for aphids. This discovery sheds light on a biological puzzle noted by naturalists dating back at least to Aristotle: how do insects hijack plant development to induce galls?

They also found that all aphids, including many species that attack important agricultural crops, produce bicycle proteins.

"Our lab has discovered that these proteins are essential for aphid survival," Stern said. "Since these proteins are produced by the salivary glands and then injected into plants, the salivary glands are an interesting target for aphid control. In fact, all sap-sucking insects inject proteins from their salivary glands, making these organs a possible Achilles' heel for sap-sucking crop pests worldwide."

Aphids are sometimes referred to as the "mosquitoes of the plant world" because they don't just feed on plants, but also spread disease. By transmitting viruses and bacteria, aphids cause enormous damage to global crops, threatening agriculture and food security. Stern said his team's findings may "open the door to next generation pest control strategies that are precise, effective, and safe."

"David's research embodies the heart of the science we pursue at Stowers," said President and Chief Scientific Officer Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado, Ph.D. "He is revealing entirely new avenues of biology with enormous implications."

In addition to its agricultural promise, Stern's work provides a window into evolution itself. The proteins his lab discovered have no known relatives. "This gives us a rare opportunity to study how proteins manipulate genomes and potentially uncover new principles that extend far beyond insect–plant interactions," said Stern.

"David has a gift for turning curiosity into discovery," said Scientific Director Kausik Si, Ph.D. "From fruit flies to aphids, he has shown how creative approaches to evolution and genetics can reveal principles with global importance. "

Stern is known worldwide for his broad approach to science, spanning genetics, evolutionary biology, biochemistry, and fieldwork. At the Institute, he plans to bring the same interdisciplinary approach to understanding plant–insect systems.

For Stern, the Stowers Institute represents the ideal environment to pursue big, open-ended questions. "I'm happiest pipetting at the lab bench alongside my team, and this is one of the rare places where investigators can do that full-time," he said.

The Institute's unique funding structure, supported by American Century Investments, allows investigators the freedom to pursue their research without major financial constraints — a model that resonates deeply with Stern's philosophy of hands-on science.

"From my first visit, I was struck by the energy and excitement of the entire community. It feels like being a graduate student again, chasing curiosity wherever it leads," Stern added. "It's the ideal place to bring this work to the next level."

About the Stowers Institute for Medical Research

Founded in 1994 through the generosity of Jim Stowers, founder of American Century Investments, and his wife, Virginia, the Stowers Institute for Medical Research is a non-profit, biomedical research organization with a focus on foundational research. Its mission is to expand our understanding of the secrets of life and improve life's quality through innovative approaches to the causes, treatment, and prevention of diseases.

The Institute consists of 20 independent research programs. Of the approximately 500 members, over 370 are scientific staff that include principal investigators, technology center directors, postdoctoral scientists, graduate students, and technical support staff. Learn more about the Institute at www.stowers.org and about its graduate program at www.stowers.org/gradschool.

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SOURCE Stowers Institute for Medical Research