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Bensinger laboratory is defining how lipid metabolism influences the ability of immune cells to function correctly. Using state-of-the-art technologies, he has discovered that immune cells can rapidly and profoundly reshape lipid metabolic programs to recognize foreign invaders. These changes in the lipid architecture of cells are essential for ensuring that invading microbes and viruses are neutralized and rapidly cleared from the body. In some instances, they find that changes in the lipid composition of immune cells are necessary to turn on the immune response and avoid unwanted inflammation. Bensinger is leveraging the knowledge gained from these studies to determine how reprogramming lipid metabolism in immune cells can help boost immunity in fighting cancer and infections. Additionally, he is exploring how metabolic diseases such as obesity and diabetes can interfere with the ability of immune cells to reprogram their metabolism in response to infections, helping explain why individuals with metabolic disorders are more susceptible to infections.
Department of Economics admits primarily for the PhD program.