In The News
27 October 2026
The 2026 Ingram’s 250—The Most Powerful Business Leaders in Greater Kansas City
Stowers Institute President and Chief Scientific Officer Alejandro Sánchez Alvarado named on Ingram's 250
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What makes life work?
By uncovering the secrets underlying fundamental biological processes, we can find innovative approaches to diagnose, treat, and prevent disease.
Foundational science. Profound implications.
Discovery
Foundational research is where cures begin. Discoveries resulting from studying the fundamental processes of life frequently prove to be major milestones toward novel therapies and treatments.
Innovation
World-class equipment and collaborative partnerships. Our researchers work side-by-side with experts in our Technology Centers. The unique model has catapulted the Institute to the forefront of innovative science.
Hope
We are dedicated to encouraging motivated individuals to pursue science or science-related professions — from our accredited Graduate School to our training programs for post-docs, post-bacs and undergrads.
25 Years of Discovery
The Stowers Institute is dedicated to the next 25 years of biological discovery. In the words of our founders, “The best is yet to be.” Learn how we are honoring the milestone and celebrating the future of biological discovery. Explore a timeline of the Institute's history, hear from founding members, and reflect on the vision of Jim and Virginia Stowers.
25 Years of DiscoveryStowers Institute at a Glance
$2B
Spent on research
500
Members
10
Acre campus
150
Ongoing research projects
Our unique funding model allows the freedom to explore the unexpected.
Transformational science requires the transformation of science. Through the unparalleled generosity and vision of our founders, Jim and Virginia Stowers, we have a scientific ecosystem that encourages discovery and innovation. Jim, founder of American Century Investments, and Virginia followed their initial generous investment by establishing a funding model that provides ongoing support of our research through the annual dividends from American Century Investments. Because of this structure, Stowers scientists are uniquely positioned to explore with freedom, and allowed the ability to follow biological avenues that lead to novel discoveries and to share their findings for the betterment of humanity.
Applications for the Stowers Graduate School Ph.D. Program are open
Join the Fall 2027 class and take the next step in your scientific journey.
Apply HereThe Latest News & Events
News
26 October 2026
Stowers Communications Team earns Emmy Award for visual storytelling of coral research
The winning video highlights research from the lab of Investigator Matt Gibson, Ph.D., whose team has become one of a handful worldwide to successfully maintain and reproduce reef-building corals in a lab. Their work aims to uncover fundamental insights that could help protect coral that are increasingly threatened by climate change and other environmental pressures.
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Press Release
23 October 2026
From sea anemone to human fertility: A new research organism for understanding meiosis
Stowers Institute scientists found that the sea anemone Nematostella uses many of the same proteins humans rely on to make eggs and sperm, offering the potential for new insights into infertility, miscarriage, and birth defects
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In The News
23 October 2026
Kansas City lab trains artificial intelligence to predict disease proteins
From KCTV5, The Halfmann Lab is helping lead an innovative research effort using artificial intelligence to better understand protein changes linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
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In The News
21 October 2026
Kansas City lab to train AI to predict protein changes tied to ALS, Alzheimer’s
From KCTV5, Investigator Randal Halfmann and a team of local scientists received a $4.1 million grant at Stowers Institute for Medical Research
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Press Release
14 October 2026
Cell division does more than make new cells. It helps reshape tissues.
Tissues constantly add cells as they grow but somehow remain organized. A new study from the Gibson Lab reveals how part of this complex, poorly understood process works — providing new insights into how tissues change during development, regeneration, and disease.
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Press Release
09 October 2026
Stowers scientist selected for $28.6 million effort to predict protein changes behind neurodegenerative disease
The new award brings together a team of scientists who will combine AI, large-scale experiments and human-cell studies to predict harmful protein changes before disease takes hold.
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In The News
29 September 2026
Rapidly Evolving Aphid Proteins Share a Common Structural Blueprint
From Technology Networks: The Stern Lab reveals a shared structural blueprint among thousands of rapidly evolving aphid proteins.
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In The News
24 September 2026
Shared blueprint in aphid proteins helps AI predict their structures
From Phys.org: The Stern Lab reveals how evolution helped AI predict the structures of thousands of rapidly evolving aphid proteins.
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Our Organisms
Answers to fundamental questions of biology can be found by turning to nature. From mice, fruit flies, yeast, and bacteria, to plants, planarians, sea anemones, coral, killifish, apple snails, and more, a broad range of research organisms reside at the Institute.
Cared for by dedicated teams of technicians, each was carefully chosen based on their ability to solve specific biological questions — aiding in advancing our understanding of how life works.
Learn more about our organisms and their extraordinary biological feats.
Defining New Frontiers
Kansas City: born from a spirit of discovery
Incredible science comes from curious and creative minds. Our bold and innovative approach to research is the perfect match for the dynamic culture and profound pride you’ll find in Kansas City. Similar to the Stowers Institute, Kansas City is pushing boundaries. An incredible food and music scene, world-class art institutions, and championship sports teams are just a few of the great attributes that set KC apart. See why we’ve chosen the heart of the country as our home.