Stanford University · BiologyThe Macrophage Project
Robert B West · Stanford, California
Research Focus
Dr. Robert B. West's lab at Stanford University focuses on breast cancer research, particularly the progression of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) to invasive breast cancer (IBC). The lab studies how certain immune cells, particularly macrophages, behave in the tumor microenvironment to identify new biomarkers that could predict cancer progression. Their research aims to improve our understanding of cancer biology and to better predict patient outcomes based on specific tumor characteristics.
breast cancermacrophagestumor microenvironmentbiomarkersdisease progressionductal carcinoma in situinvasive breast cancerimmune response
Research Aims
3AIM 01Investigate how different macrophage subtypes change during the early stages of DCIS formation.
AIM 02Identify macrophage-specific markers indicating the transition from DCIS to IBC.
AIM 03Examine the interactions between macrophages and fibroblasts and their role in tumor progression.
Skills the Lab Values
mouse modelstissue cultureimmunohistochemistryRNA sequencingflow cytometrybioinformatics3D culture techniquesmolecular biology techniquesdata visualization tools
Output against the department
Publications503top 8% of dept.82nd of 1,033
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations33ktop 9% of dept.97th of 1,033
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.