Lance K. Blevins

Lance K. Blevins is an Assistant Professor at the Institute for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, with joint appointments in the Food Safety and Toxicology department. He holds a PhD in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (Immunology) from Wake Forest University and a Biology BA from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

• Education:
  • PhD, Wake Forest University (2016) - Molecular & Cellular Biosciences (Immunology)
  • BA, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (2007) - Biology

Dr. Blevins' research centers on adaptive immunology with particular emphasis on:

• CD5+ Innate-Like B Cell vulnerability to environmental toxins
• Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) activation mechanisms
• TCDD (Dioxin) immunotoxicity pathways
• Xenobiotic-Mediated IgM response suppression
• Molecular Mechanisms of toxicant-induced immune dysfunction

His work reveals CD5+ B cells exhibit heightened AHR expression leading to impaired immunoglobulin M production following dioxin exposure. Current projects aim to characterize understudied immune cell populations and elucidate AHR signaling networks in human immunotoxicology.

Through collaborative studies with NE Kaminski's team, Dr. Blevins investigates:

• Cannabinoid receptor modulation of neuroinflammatory markers
• Complement system activation in viral pathogenesis
• TSPO localization in HIV+ immune dysregulation
• Lactoferrin safety via GLP immunotoxicity assays
• Streptococcus pneumoniae immune evasion mechanisms
• Proteomic profiling of dioxin exposure effects

His methodological approach combines human primary cell cultures, rodent models, and multi-omics analysis to bridge environmental toxicology with immune system dysfunction.