DONALD DANFORTH
PLANT SCIENCE CENTER
Since 1998, The Donald Danforth Plant Science Center has brought over 300 scientists from more than 20 different countries together to answer humanity’s most profound challenges. Today the Danforth Center is the largest organization of its kind, an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit founded to improve the human condition through plant science.
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We seek to feed the hungry and improve human health while preserving and renewing our environment. Through our endeavors, we will enhance the St. Louis region as a world center for plant science.
MEET OUR RESEARCHERS
Who We Are
Our principal investigators are the engine that powers the Danforth Center. Their accomplishments have laid the groundwork for countless new technologies. They attract the brightest minds in the field for their labs and land major national research grants. We are honored to work with them.
KIRK CZYMMEK, PHD
Director, Advanced Bioimaging Laboratory
Kirk is an internationally renowned expert in bioimaging with 30 years’ experience and over 100 publications. He is proud of his role in discovering a new imaging approach to follow subcellular calcium signaling in filamentous fungi—a world first. His research today focuses on small microbes that cause disease in both humans and plants. And he is dedicated to his role at the Danforth Center, partnering with numerous colleagues to help advance their research as well.
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Kirk says: “As the world’s warming continues, plants will likely be more stressed and more vulnerable. Under higher humidity and warmer environmental conditions, fungi and other pathogens will thrive and diseases once limited to the tropics will continue to spread. Danforth Center Principal Investigators are working to develop disease resistance in important plants - figuring out how to grow more food in challenging conditions. We need more productivity to feed the world. Advanced bioimaging will help.”
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He adds: “The Danforth Center is a special place with a special mission. I get up every morning excited to do work that will benefit humanity.”
