About
Michael Dustin is the Kennedy Trust Professor of Molecular Immunology and Director of Research at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford. His career spans leadership roles at Washington University School of Medicine (1993–2000) and Skirball Institute of Biomolecular Medicine at NYU School of Medicine (2001–2013).
- Education:
- B.A. in Biology, Boston University (1984)
- Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology, Harvard University (1990)
Prof. Dustin's research focuses on the immunological synapse, a specialized interface between T cells and antigen-presenting cells. His work has revealed supramolecular attack particles as autonomous killing entities, synaptic ectosomes for TCR cargo transfer, and mechanistic insights into T cell signaling pathways.
His recent publications highlight advancements in vaccine adjuvant response, T cell receptor dynamics, and glycosphingolipid synthesis in immune cells. Collaborations span neuroscience, cancer immunology, and rheumatology.
- Scientific Awards:
- Wellcome Trust Principal Research Fellowship
- European Research Council Advanced Grant (SYNECT)
As Director of the NIH-funded Nanomedicine Center for Mechanobiology (2009–2014), he pioneered mechanobiology applications in immunology. Current projects integrate intravital microscopy and clinical translation for human diseases.
His laboratory at Oxford investigates T cell regulation in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, supported by an international network of collaborators including Wenbiao Gan, Dan Littman, and Dorian McGavern.
