Phillip West

Dr. Phillip West is an Associate Professor at the University of Maine's Graduate School of Biomedical Science and Engineering and leads a research laboratory at The Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine. He holds a Ph.D. in Immunobiology from Yale University (2011) and completed postdoctoral training at Yale School of Medicine. His research investigates mitochondrial-immune interactions in disease contexts.

Research in the West Lab focuses on mitochondrial regulation of immune responses, with emphasis on:

• Mitochondrial DNA release as a trigger for inflammation
• Metabolic rewiring in mitochondrial diseases
• cGAS-STING pathway activation mechanisms
• Immunopathology in heart failure, neurodegeneration, and cancer

Current projects examine how mitochondrial dysfunction accelerates aging and inflammatory conditions using preclinical models.

Publication analysis reveals consistent focus on:

• Mitochondrial DNA sensing pathways (cGAS-STING, ZBP1)
• Immunometabolic dysregulation in genetic disorders
• Cross-disciplinary approaches combining immunology, metabolism, and cell biology
• Therapeutic implications for inflammatory diseases

The laboratory maintains active collaborations and utilizes advanced techniques in molecular immunology, metabolomics, and genetic models. Current work explores mitochondrial control of immune cell function in infection, autoimmunity, and age-related pathologies.