Martin J. Hessner

Martin J. Hessner is a Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Wisconsin, specializing in Pediatric Endocrinology. He directs the Max McGee Research Center for Juvenile Diabetes and focuses on type 1 diabetes (T1D) pathogenesis, innate immunity, and environmental influences.

Dr. Hessner earned a PhD in Micro/Molecular Biology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (1990) and a BS from Carroll College (1985). His research uses bioassays, the BioBreeding rat model, and human clinical studies to investigate T1D’s autoimmune mechanisms and environmental triggers. Key areas include innate immune dysregulation, microbiome-immune interactions, and probiotic therapies.

His lab identifies biomarkers predicting disease progression and immunotherapy responses, with recent emphasis on gut microbiota modulation and inflammatory state normalization. Findings suggest probiotics may slow T1D onset by enhancing regulatory immune mechanisms.

Publications highlight systemic inflammation biomarkers, probiotic clinical trials, and mechanisms linking diet/microbiota to disease. Research integrates immunology, endocrinology, and translational medicine to develop disease-modifying strategies targeting high-risk populations.

Current initiatives focus on: 1) Characterizing familial inflammation in T1D susceptibility and its impact on progression, and 2) Leveraging environmental interventions (e.g., probiotics) to promote immunoregulation. Long-term goals include personalized therapies combining probiotics with immunotherapies.