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James J Pestka is the Robert Carol Deibel Family Endowed Professor and a University Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University, specializing in Microbiology, Genetics, and Immunology. His research focuses on the relationship between heredity and environmental factors that predispose individuals to autoimmune diseases, particularly lupus. Through innovative studies, Dr. Pestka investigates how cumulative exposures to environmental toxicants, along with dietary influences, affect the onset and severity of autoimmune conditions. His laboratory's work has revealed that exposure to crystalline silica can trigger early systemic autoimmunity, and interventions using docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) demonstrate significant potential in preventing silica-induced lupus in animal models. Dr. Pestka's contributions to this field have been recognized through numerous awards, including the Distinguished Faculty Award at MSU and being elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Microbiology. He has dedicated his career to understanding the triggers of autoimmune diseases and developing dietary strategies to mitigate their effects.
Department of Psychology