Mariko Bennett Lab
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Mariko BENNETT LAB

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
University of Pennsylvania

Research Questions

Microglia are the dynamic, resident parenchymal macrophages of the brain and spinal cord. They are powerful immune effectors and are distinct from other macrophages in our body and at brain borders. Our lab aims to develop new understandings of microglial function in health and disease, to realize their potential as the next generation of therapeutics for pediatric neuroimmunological disease

What do glia do in health and disease?

We study human tissues and disease models to understand the role of microglia and astrocytes in human neuroinflammatory disease. We also investigate how microglia help build the developing nervous system to identify new potential therapeutic approaches.

How can we better engineer microglia?

Viral transduction is a powerful method gene therapy and targeting. We are fascinated by the ability of microglia to restrict viral infection and are uncovering new microglial restriction factors and methods for targeting microglia with experimental viruses to introduce genes.

When & how should we intervene? 

Informed by Dr Bennett's clinical work, we are developing more robust disease models that more faithfully recapitulate human disease to know how and when intervention is necessary in the disease process. 

Through all of this, we continue to develop a suite of shareable techniques & tools to allow others to make new and exciting discoveries about the function and dysfunction of microglia. 

The Mariko Bennett Lab

Mariko L Bennett MD, PhD

Principal Investigator
Asst Professor of Neurology & Pediatrics

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania

Anna Foltz, BS

Research Technician

Brian Temsamrit, MSE

Laboratory Manager

 

Micaela O’Reilly, PhD

Post Doc

Genevieve Uy, BS

Research Technician

 

Helen Moniz, BS

Research Technician

Asif A. Dar, PhD

Research Associate

 

Graduate Students

Jordan McKinney, MS

University of Pennsylvania

Neuroscience Graduate Group

Madison Sangster, BS

University of Pennsylvania

Gene Therapy and Vaccine Program

Alex Martinez Lopez, MS

University of Pennsylvania

Neuroscience Graduate Group

Ryan Rahman, BS

University of Pennsylvania

Neuroscience Graduate Group & MSTP

Undergraduate Students

Hannah Gong

University of Pennsylvania .

Katherine Andres

University of Pennsylvania.

 

Lab Alumni

 Publications

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