Matthew Griffin

Matthew Griffin is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). His research focuses on chemical biology at the host-microbial interface, particularly exploring microbiota functions, immunomodulation, and glycoscience. His lab develops innovative tools for studying microbiota-derived molecules and their roles in immune responses, cancer immunotherapy, and inflammatory processes. Key areas include chemical probes for microbiome analysis, engineered bacteria for therapeutic applications, and glycan engineering to modulate cellular signaling.

Griffin's work integrates chemical biology, microbiology, and immunology to address challenges in precision medicine and microbial therapies. Current research emphasizes understanding how microbial metabolites interact with host receptors (e.g., GPRC5A) and how these interactions can enhance cancer immunotherapy efficacy. The lab also pioneers methods for functional glycoproteomics and bacterial gene editing (e.g., using RecT recombinase in Enterococcus species).

His publications highlight advancements in microbiota-driven immunomodulation, antimicrobial peptide impacts on gut colonization, and synthetic biology approaches to improve immune checkpoint therapies. The lab actively recruits postdoctoral researchers and is expanding its focus on translating microbial and glycan-based discoveries into clinical applications.