Professor Dustin is Kennedy Trust Professor of Molecular Immunology at the University of Oxford and Director of Research of the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology. He has a B.A. in Biology from Boston University and a Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology from Harvard University. His interests are focused on cell-cell synapsis in the immune system. His early work revealed the dynamics of the immunological synapse using supported lipid bilayers. In mid-career he explored in vivo dynamics of the immune response using two-photon laser scanning microscopy. Work over the last 10 years has explored the nanoscale organization of the immunological synapse leading to a fundamental description of the supramolecular assemblies that make up the immunological synapse. Surprising findings included synaptic ectosomes involved in T cell help and supramolecular attack particles that mediate cytotoxicity- both of which are found in the centre of the immunological synapse. Prof Dustin received a Presidential Early Career Award in Science and Engineering and is a member of EMBO and the National Academy of Sciences of the United States.
Professional position
- Director of Research, Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford
- Kennedy Trust Professor of Molecular Immunology, Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Science, University of Oxford
Subject groups
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Molecules of Life
Biochemistry and molecular biology, Biophysics and structural biology, Cell biology (incl molecular cell biology), Molecular immunology
