Etty Tika Benveniste
University of Alabama at Birmingham
USA
Dr. Benveniste is currently Senior Vice Dean for Basic Sciences at the UAB School of Medicine. She was Founding Chair of the Department of Cell, Developmental and Integrative Biology (2012-2015), and served as Chair of the Department of Cell Biology (2000-2011).
Dr. Benveniste initiated research as a postdoctoral fellow at UCLA in the emerging field of neuroimmunology, elucidating mechanisms by which cells of the immune system and the central nervous system communicate and influence functionality, cytokine/chemokine production by glial cells (astrocytes and microglia), the effects of cytokines/chemokines on glial cell function, and the ability of glial cells to function as immune effector cells. This research continues to date, and have implications for autoimmune/neurodegenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson’s Disease, and cancers such as Glioblastoma. Dr. Benveniste’s research is supported by grants from the NIH, the Michael J. Fox Foundation and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Dr. Benveniste was elected in 2009 as a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). With 32 years of peer-review panel experience, Benveniste serves as a reviewer for panels such as the Michael J. Fox Foundation, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, and the NIH Directors Transformative Research Award Committee.