Kenneth Michael Pollard

Kenneth Michael Pollard, PhD is an Associate Professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) in La Jolla, CA. His primary affiliation is with the Scripps Research Institute, with research activities focused on the Scripps La Jolla campus. His work integrates immunology, toxicology, and environmental health, examining mechanisms by which environmental exposures trigger systemic autoimmunity.

• Bachelor of Science (1975) Australian National University
• PhD (1983) University of Sydney
• Certificate in Regulatory Affairs (2009) UCSD

Research Interests: Dr. Pollard’s lab investigates how environmental agents like crystalline silica and mercury induce autoimmune diseases. Key areas include: 1) Innate/adaptive immune interactions in silica-induced autoimmunity. 2) Silica-driven inflammatory arthritis mechanisms. 3) Genetic susceptibility using Diversity Outbred mice. His work bridges environmental toxicology with immunopathology, particularly in occupational exposures (mining, artificial stone fabrication).

Publications Trends: Over 150 peer-reviewed articles, with recent focus on: silica-induced autoimmunity mechanisms, xenobiotic-induced systemic effects, and genetic loci influencing disease susceptibility. Major themes include TLR signaling pathways, complement system interactions, and cytokine regulation in autoimmunity.

• Terri Gotthelf Lupus Research Institute Scholar (1988-1991)
• NIAID R29 FIRST Award (1991-1996)
• Giuseppe Molinaro Lecture (2015)

Lab Activities: Maintains active collaborations in autoimmune disease modeling, particularly mercury-induced autoimmunity. Current lab members include Jessica Mayeux (Research Associate) and Joseph Christy (Research Assistant). The lab uses murine models to identify genetic and environmental checkpoints in autoimmune progression.

Lab Infrastructure: Located in the Immunology Building (IMM-208), with core facilities including flow cytometry and immunotoxicology labs. Associated with TSRI’s Molecular and Experimental Medicine department.