Dr. Robert Abramovitch

Biography

Robert Abramovitch is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Genetics, & Immunology at Michigan State University. He earned his B.Sc. in 2000 from the University of British Columbia and his Ph.D. in 2006 from Cornell University, followed by post-doctoral studies at Cornell from 2007 to 2011. His research primarily focuses on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which is responsible for tuberculosis and is one of the leading causes of death from infectious disease. Abramovitch's research program aims to characterize how M. tuberculosis adapts to life inside macrophages, the immune cells that typically kill bacteria, and to apply these discoveries toward the development of new drugs for tuberculosis treatment. His lab uses genetic, genomic, and biochemical approaches to characterize new genes and proteins that enable M. tuberculosis to thrive as an intracellular pathogen. His work explores the mechanisms of environmental adaptation, specifically how M. tuberculosis responds to acidic pH, and investigates genetic pathways that facilitate its survival in hostile environments. His ongoing studies also include the modulation of gene expression as a potential target for drug development, identifying inhibitors that can interfere with M. tuberculosis adaptation and physiology.

Research Interests

Experience