Events will be hosted January – December, 2025, on the last Wednesday of every month, 12:00 – 14:00 pm ET. Presented over Zoom.
After each talk, we will continue the discussions in an informal social meeting with MSE. All speakers and members of the audience are welcome to join the social meeting.
Hosted by: Sue Ishaq, MSE, and finacially supported by the University of Maine Institute of Medicine and the UMaine Cultural Affairs/Distinguished Lecture Committee.
Summary:
Microorganisms are critical to many aspects of biological life, including human health. The human body is a veritable universe for microorganisms: some pass through but once, some are frequent tourists, and some spend their entire existence in the confines of our body tissues. The collective microbial community, our microbiome, can be impacted by the details of our lifestyle, including diet, hygiene, health status, and more, but many are driven by social, economic, medical, or political constraints that restrict available choices that may impact our health. Access to resources is the basis for creating and resolving social equity—access to healthcare, healthy foods, a suitable living environment, and to beneficial microorganisms, but also access to personal and occupational protection to avoid exposure to infectious disease. This speaker series explores the way that microbes connect public policy, social disparities, and human health, as well as the ongoing research, education, policy, and innovation in this field.
You can find recordings from previous series here.
“Viral Entry: Lessons from Pathogens to Improve Human Health”
Dr. Chelsey Spriggs, PhD.
Jun 25, 2025 12:00 ET. This event has passed, watch the recording here.
Dr. Chelsey Spriggs is an Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan Medical School and a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Michigan’s Life Sciences Institute. She earned her PhD in microbiology from Northwestern University in 2017. Chelsey now runs an independent research program at the University of Michigan studying the host-pathogen interactions required for the cellular entry of both oncogenic and oncolytic viruses and is grateful for the opportunity to mentor and train the next generation of young scientists in her lab. The lack of representation in STEM is, at times, discouraging; and she aims to serve as a role-model (and resource) for underrepresented minority students interested in biological research through engaging in various outreach, mentorship, and teaching opportunities. Chelsey is a co-founder of the Black Microbiologists Association where she currently serves as the Treasurer and Director of Membership.
Logo designed by Alex Guillen
The Ishaq Lab 