Benjamin Morehouse, Ph.D.
Dr. Benjamin Morehouse Awarded Michelson Prize for Proposal to Uncover Hidden, Ancient Immune Pathways
The Michelson Medical Research Foundation has awarded a 2026 Michelson Prizes: Next Generation Grant to Dr. Benjamin Morehouse in recognition of his proposal, “Deciphering the Function of an Orphan Enzyme in the Innate Immune System,” which aims to transform our understanding of innate immunity by studying an uncharacterized enzyme. By uncovering a newly identified human enzyme involved in inflammation, Dr. Morehouse’s research could lead to new treatments for autoimmune diseases and chronic inflammatory conditions.
About
Dr. Morehouse is an Assistant Professor of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the University of California, Irvine. He is a biochemist and structural biologist working at the interface of microbiology and immunology disciplines, exploring the evolution of immune systems. He received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Brandeis University in 2017 after conducting thesis research with Dr. Daniel Oprian. He was an NIH F32-supported postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Medical School and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, working with Dr. Philip Kranzusch prior to beginning his independent career in 2022.