Benjamin Epstein
About Benjamin Epstein
Benjamin Epstein is a Postdoctoral Researcher at The National Institutes of Health, specializing in AAV-based gene therapy for Niemann-Pick Disease, type C. He has a strong background in retinal biology, antibody engineering, and genome editing techniques, with previous experience at institutions such as the Weizmann Institute of Science and the University of California, Berkeley.
Work at National Institutes of Health
Currently, Benjamin Epstein serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD. He has held this position since 2018, contributing to research initiatives in gene therapy. His work is conducted in the Pavan Lab at the National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI), where he focuses on innovative solutions for gene therapy applications.
Education and Expertise
Benjamin Epstein achieved his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Bioengineering from the University of California, Berkeley, in collaboration with UCSF, completing his studies from 2011 to 2017. He also holds a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Biological Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied from 2006 to 2010. His educational background equips him with expertise in retinal biology, antibody engineering, genome editing techniques including CRISPR/Cas9 and TALENs, and computational and systems biology.
Background
Benjamin Epstein has a diverse research background, having worked in various prestigious institutions. He began his research career as a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellow at the Mayo Clinic in 2007 and continued in a similar role in 2008. He also gained experience as a UROP at the MIT Wittrup Lab from 2009 to 2010. Prior to his current role at NIH, he was a Postbaccalaureate Fellow at NIH from 2010 to 2011 and a PhD Candidate at UC Berkeley from 2011 to 2017.
Research Focus and Projects
Benjamin Epstein conducts research on AAV-based gene therapy, specifically targeting Niemann-Pick Disease, type C, a rare neurodegenerative disorder. His work aims to develop innovative gene therapy solutions, leveraging his background in retinal biology and antibody engineering. This focus reflects his commitment to advancing therapeutic strategies in the field of gene therapy.