Nizet Lab People: Mary Hensler

Mary Hensler, Ph.D.
Postgraduate Researcher

Mary Hensler received her undergraduate education from LeMoyne College in Syracuse, NY and completed her doctoral studies in Cellular and Molecular Pathobiology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine (Bowman Gray Campus). Mary's Ph.D. studies examined the biochemical and structure-function interaction between activated platelets, fibrinogen and coagulation proteases in thrombostasis. She subsequently did a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Utah on molecular and biochemical characterization of adhesion plaque proteins including talin and zyxin. More recently, Mary served as a Staff Scientist at Applied Molecular Evolution and later Nereus Pharmaceuticals, two well-established drug discovery and development companies in the San Diego biotechnology sector.

Mary's principal research studies focus on the pathogenesis of GBS neonatal pneumonia and the role that specific bacterial virulence factors play in the penetration of host epithelial and endothelial barriers. This project is a full collaboration with the laboratory of Prof. Gregory Heldt in the UCSD Division of Neonatology, and includes in vivo studies of therapeutic interventions to improve neonatal lung function and lung defenses. Mary also spearheads investigation into discovery of new classes of antimicrobials with activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.