Benjamin Combs, PhD

• Assistant Professor

• Department of Translational Neuroscience
• Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

• Grand Rapids Research Center
• 400 Monroe Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• combsben@msu.edu

Biography

Dr. Benjamin Combs graduated with a BS degree in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University before transitioning into molecular biology and obtaining a PhD in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Kansas where he studied tau protein biology under the training of Dr. Chris Gamblin. He continued studying the tau protein as a postdoctoral researcher with Dr. Nicholas Kanaan at Michigan State University before moving into faculty positions within the College of Human Medicine. Since then his research program has been funded by the National Institute of Health, Alzheimer’s Association, Department of Defense, and Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center.

He also serves as a member of the Alzheimer’s Association International Research Grant Program Council. Outside of the lab Dr. Combs enjoys spending time with his family, camping throughout Michigan, traveling, music, and following several of his favorite sports teams.

• Dr. Comb's bibliography

Education

Research Interests

The major research goals of Dr. Combs are to discover and understand how pathological tau protein induces toxicity across several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and how these diseases and toxic mechanisms are affected by exposure to environmental contaminants like cadmium. He uses protein biochemistry, cell culture, primary neuron culture, C. elegans and rodent model systems, and human tissue techniques to answer these questions. Understanding the molecular events underpinning the initiation and progression of these diseases allows for the targeted therapeutic intervention to slow or stop the disease.

Publications

Technical Expertise

• Protein biochemistry
• Primary neuron culture
• Cell line culture
• Western blotting
• Immunohistochemistry
• Immunofluorescence
• Confocal microscopy
• Electron microscopy
  Neurotoxicology
• Animal models of Tauopathies
• Learning and memory assays in mice
• ELISA
• Virus-based gene expression
• Recombinant protein purification
• Multi-electrode array assays