Christopher Sassetti

Christopher M. Sassetti is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan Medical School) and T.H. Chan School of Medicine. His research focuses on the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, specifically understanding how the bacterium adapts to host environments, acquires nutrients, regulates its cell wall physiology, and survives antibiotic treatment. He completed his BS in Biology at Santa Clara University and his PhD in Immunology at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Sassetti leads the Sassetti Lab, which employs genetic, biochemical, and systems biology approaches to study tuberculosis. His work has identified critical metabolic pathways and survival mechanisms in M. tuberculosis, including cholesterol utilization and cell wall synthesis regulation. He holds additional academic roles in the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, including the Immunology and Microbiology Program, MD/PhD Program, and Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program.

Recent research highlights include studies on host immune responses to tuberculosis, antibiotic efficacy under infection conditions, and the role of genetic interactions in pathogen survival. His lab has discovered that host fatty acid metabolism and autophagy pathways play key roles in restricting bacterial growth. Dr. Sassetti has been recognized as a Damon Runyon Foundation Scholar and has contributed to high-impact publications in Immunity, Science, and Cell.

Current projects include understanding nutrient acquisition in vivo, phosphosignaling regulation of cell wall synthesis, and metabolic mechanisms driving antibiotic tolerance. Collaborative efforts with institutions like the Morningside Graduate School and global networks drive translational research toward novel tuberculosis therapies and vaccines.