Dennis L. Kasper

Dennis L. Kasper is the William Ellery Channing Professor of Medicine and Professor of Microbiology and Immunobiology at Harvard Medical School. He earned his M.D. from the University of Louisville and completed his medical residency and infectious diseases fellowship at Harvard-affiliated hospitals. Dr. Kasper’s research program centers on the molecular mechanisms of host-microbial interactions, with a particular emphasis on the role of the gut microbiome in health and disease. His laboratory investigates how commensal bacteria produce bioactive molecules—especially glycolipids and other microbial metabolites—that modulate host immune responses, influence mucosal immunity, and affect susceptibility to infection and inflammation. A major theme of his recent work involves deciphering how bacterial glycosphingolipids orchestrate colonization and immune education in neonatal hosts, and how these processes can be harnessed or targeted for therapeutic benefit. His group also maintains a longstanding interest in the pathogenesis and treatment of streptococcal infections. Dr. Kasper’s contributions have been recognized by numerous awards, including election to the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Medicine. He has authored over 365 publications and maintains an active, highly cited research program, as evidenced by his recent high-impact papers in journals such as Nature, Cell, and Nature Microbiology.