Kyle L. Poulsen

Kyle L. Poulsen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Michigan State University. His translational research focuses on chronic liver disease, particularly the role of the MIF-CD74 pathway in epithelial-immune communication during alcohol-related injury.

• B.S. in Biochemistry & Toxicology from Eastern Michigan University (2008)
• Ph.D. in Pharmacology & Toxicology from Michigan State University (2013)

Research interests center on:

• Time- and context-dependent MIF-CD74 signaling
• Immune cell infiltration and activation
• Mitochondrial dysfunction in liver disease
• 3D spheroid/organoid modeling
• Organellar transplantation therapies

Recent publications highlight trends in metabolic-liver interactions, pancreatic tumor immunosuppression, and mitochondrial regulation. Notable grants include NIH-funded projects on MIF-CD74 as a therapeutic target in alcohol-associated liver disease (2024-2025) and hepatocyte-derived MIF contributions to alcoholic injury (2020-2023).