Benjamin Combs

Dr. Benjamin Combs is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience at Michigan State University (MSU) College of Human Medicine. His research focuses on understanding the toxic mechanisms of the tau protein in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), using techniques such as protein biochemistry, cell culture, animal models, and human tissue analysis.

Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering (Iowa State University, 2006), Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology (University of Kansas, 2013). He completed postdoctoral training under Dr. Nicholas Kanaan at MSU before joining the faculty.

Research Interests: Dr. Combs explores how tau protein dysfunction contributes to neurodegeneration, with a focus on axonal transport impairments and pathological protein conformations. His work integrates biochemical assays, live-cell imaging, and genetic models to dissect disease mechanisms.

Key Contributions: His recent studies highlight tau’s role as a signaling hub protein and the impact of mutations on axonal transport. He has pioneered methods to produce tau oligomers in vitro and analyze their effects using live-cell imaging.

Technical Expertise: Includes primary neuron culture, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, confocal and electron microscopy, and protein biochemistry.