From zebrafish to bedside — decoding disease one genome at a time.
We pioneer genome engineering tools, zebrafish disease models, and mitochondrial therapeutics at the intersection of discovery science and clinical translation. Based at Dell Medical School and the Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin.
The Ekker Lab integrates vertebrate disease modeling, precision editing technologies, and mitochondrial biology to accelerate therapeutic development for rare and common diseases.
Over 30 years pioneering zebrafish (Danio rerio) as a vertebrate model for human disease. The lab advances tools for rigorous, reproducible zebrafish research including study design standards ("Zebrafishology"), nondestructive genotyping, and conditional genetic resources.
Inventors and pioneers of multiple genome editing technologies including morpholinos, TALENs, Sleeping Beauty transposon delivery, and HDR-based knock-in. Tools developed in the Ekker Lab are used by thousands of labs worldwide.
Developing breakthrough tools for mtDNA editing including the FusX TALE Base Editor (FusXTBE), achieving 90%+ efficiency in vivo. Modeling mtDNA disorders in zebrafish to accelerate therapeutic development for rare mitochondrial diseases.
Bridging discovery science to clinical application. Founded Discovery Genomics (acquired 2016), Primera Therapeutics (mitochondrial disease), and LifEngine Technologies. NIH-funded continuously for 20+ years with a track record of converting basic research into real-world impact.
Peer-reviewed research spanning zebrafish genetics, genome editing, mitochondrial biology, and translational medicine.
Prof. Ekker bridges the bench and the boardroom — shaping genomics policy, training the next generation, and translating discoveries into companies and therapies.
We are always looking for exceptional postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers interested in genome engineering and disease modeling.
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