Steven Bensinger

Steven Bensinger is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics at the University of California, Los Angeles. His research focuses on the intersection of lipid metabolism and immune cell function, particularly in the context of cancer and inflammatory diseases.

• Key Research Areas: Lipid Metabolism, T Cell Biology, Macrophage Activation, Cancer Immunology, Inflammation
• Labs & Collaborations: Bensinger Laboratory at UCLA Life Sciences
• Advisees: Wei Wang, John Chute

Recent work explores therapeutic strategies targeting lipid synthesis in glioblastoma, cholesterol homeostasis in T cells, and metabolic reprogramming of macrophages. Publications span high-impact journals such as Nature, Cell, and Science, emphasizing lipid signaling in immune evasion and tumor responses.

Notable trends include:

• Cholesterol biosynthesis as a target for immunotherapy
• Lipotoxicity induction in cancer cells
• Metabolic reprogramming during viral persistence
• Role of CoA in macrophage polarization
• Non-apoptotic cell death mechanisms
• Lipidome remodeling under inflammatory conditions

His lab employs cutting-edge techniques like stable isotope labeling, shotgun lipidomics, and Seahorse XF analysis to dissect metabolic-immune crosstalk.