Michael J. May

Michael J. May is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. His research bridges immunology, molecular biology, and vascular biology, focusing on the role of NF-κB signaling in disease contexts.

• Education: PhD in Vascular Biology Research from King’s College London (1996)
• Postdoctoral Training: Howard Hughes Medical Institute (1996-1998), Irvington Institute for Immunological Research (1998-2000) at Yale University Medical School

May’s research explores NF-κB signal transduction pathways, emphasizing their role in chronic inflammation, cancer, and immune responses. His lab investigates how aberrant NF-κB activation drives disease progression, with key interests in:

• Regulation of the IκB Kinase complex
• Endothelial cell function in inflammation
• Development of cell-permeable peptide inhibitors

Publications highlight his work on noncanonical NF-κB regulation, B cell signaling, CAR T cell survival, and translational applications in lymphoma treatment. His team combines genetic, molecular, and clinical approaches to dissect pathway dysregulation and design targeted therapies.

May leads the May Laboratory at the Penn Vet Cancer Center, applying peptide transduction technology to modulate signaling in immune-mediated diseases and cancers.