Papers
1
Total Citations
121
H-Index
1
About
Zena Werb is a pioneering cell and developmental biologist whose research has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in health and disease. Her key contributions lie in elucidating how matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors orchestrate tissue remodeling, inflammation, and cancer progression. Werb’s landmark work demonstrated that MMPs are not merely degradative enzymes but critical regulators of cell signaling, migration, and angiogenesis. For instance, her study on MMP-9 in choroidal neovascularization (2002, 121 citations) revealed a direct role for this protease in pathological blood vessel growth, linking ECM dynamics to vision loss. With over 30,000 citations, her impact spans developmental biology, immunology, and oncology. She is also celebrated for her mentorship and leadership as a professor at UCSF, where she co-founded the Program in Craniofacial and Mesenchymal Biology. Werb’s discoveries have paved the way for therapeutic strategies targeting the ECM in diseases from cancer to fibrosis, making her a towering figure in matrix biology.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Contributes to Choroidal Neovascularization121 citations · 2002