Matthew Bettini

Matthew Bettini is Professor of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Utah School of Medicine, where he directs a research program focused on immunological tolerance mechanisms and T cell engineering. His work bridges fundamental immunology with translational applications for autoimmune diseases and cancer therapy.

Education:

• B.S. from Furman University
• Ph.D. from Emory University

Dr. Bettini's research centers on three interconnected domains: neonatal tolerance to self-antigens and microbiota, thymic development of microflora-specific T cells, and CAR T cell engineering. His laboratory demonstrated that ectopic insulin expression in antigen-presenting cells enhances regulatory T cell development and prevents Type 1 Diabetes in NOD mice. Current work investigates how timing of microbial exposure shapes the T cell repertoire and gut homeostasis, while his CAR T cell research manipulates ITAM sequences to improve persistence in tumor models. Methodologically, his lab employs advanced mouse models, retroviral transduction systems, and molecular analysis of T cell signaling pathways.

Analysis of his publication record reveals consistent focus on central tolerance mechanisms, microbiota-immune system crosstalk, and T cell receptor signal optimization. His work spans from basic thymocyte development studies to therapeutic applications, with significant contributions to understanding how early-life exposures influence lifelong immune health and how to engineer more effective cellular immunotherapies.

Dr. Bettini actively mentors graduate students through the Molecular Biology Program and currently recruits for three major projects: (1) Microflora exposure in central tolerance and Type 1 Diabetes; (2) Neonatal tolerance to pancreatic antigens via dendritic cell targeting; (3) CAR ITAM engineering in humanized tumor models. His laboratory maintains specialized facilities for mouse immunology, retroviral work, and in vivo tumor modeling, operating under R01 and foundation grants that support this multidisciplinary research.