Matthew Benskey

Matthew Benskey, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. His research focuses on neuroimmunological mechanisms underlying Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, particularly the roles of alpha-synuclein and tau proteins in neuroinflammatory responses. He leads studies on how glial cells (microglia/astrocytes) contribute to neuronal degeneration, using viral vector technologies for gene delivery and disease modeling.

Education:

• B.S. in Psychology/Neuroscience, Central Michigan University (2008)
• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Michigan State University (2013)
• Postdoctoral Fellowship in Translational Neuroscience, Michigan State University (2013–2016)

Research Highlights: Dr. Benskey combines molecular, cellular, and animal model approaches to dissect proteinopathy-driven pathology. His lab pioneered viral vector tools for studying Parkinson’s-related mechanisms, including enteric nervous system targeting. Recent work explores microglial responses to alpha-synuclein aggregates and tau-induced neurodegeneration.

Publications: His 2024 studies revealed microglial resistance to CSF1R inhibitors and identified neuroinflammatory gene signatures in Parkinson’s models. Earlier work (2017) uncovered asparagine endopeptidase’s role in alpha-synuclein toxicity.

Labs/Teams: Directs the Benskey Lab at the Grand Rapids Research Center, focusing on translational neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases.