Dr. Edward Behrens

Biography

Edward M. Behrens, MD, is a Joseph Hollander Professor of Pediatric Rheumatology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He has an extensive background in the field, completing his BA in Biology at Johns Hopkins University in 1997 and earning his MD from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 2002. His primary research focuses on understanding the pathogenesis of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, a critical endpoint of various initiating diseases. His lab studies the roles of cytokines, including IL-33 and Interferon gamma, in conditions such as Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis (FHL). The lab utilizes murine models to investigate regulatory factors that affect the immune response and the pathogenesis of cytokine storms. Recent work has also examined the interactions between the microbiome and the development of cytokine storms, including how microbiota can influence immune function. He is a board-certified pediatric rheumatologist with a particular interest in autoinflammatory syndromes and has multiple ongoing projects designed to improve patient outcomes for those suffering from cytokine storm syndromes.

Research Interests