Steven Bensinger

Biography

Dr. Bensinger is an Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, and of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology. He received his Veterinary Medical Degree (V.M.D.) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Immunology from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Bensinger’s thesis work was focused on the development and function of CD4 regulatory T cells. Dr. Bensinger subsequently completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) where he examined the impact of lipid metabolism on lymphocyte function and adaptive immunity. Dr. Bensinger established his own laboratory at UCLA in 2008 and has emerged as a leader in the field of immuno-metabolism. Dr. Bensinger serves as Director of the Immunity, Inflammation, Infection, and Transplantation (I3T) Research initiative in the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Bensinger also serves as Director of Shared Resources at the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center at UCLA. 

Research Interest

Crosstalk between metabolism and immunity The Bensinger laboratory is focused on understanding how lipid metabolism influences the growth, survival and function of rapidly dividing normal and neoplastic cells. His laboratory recently revealed a lipid metabolic checkpoint that regulates cell cycle progression, cellular growth and viability in lymphocytes. Key ongoing studies include elucidating the signal transduction and regulatory networks that link growth receptor signaling to lipid anabolic programs in the adaptive immune system. We are also interested in understanding how lipid signals influence adaptive immune responses and self-tolerance. Current studies in the laboratory have found that dysregulation of lipid metabolism intrinsically influences adaptive immune cell function and autoimmune pathogenesis. Other important studies in the laboratory are focused on determining if lipid metabolic programs contribute to carcinogenesis, tumor growth and pathogenesis. Finally, we continue to seek out how to target key aspects of lipid metabolism to decrease tumor growth and alter immune cell function.