Matthew E Griffin
Assistant Professor, Chemistry
School of Physical Sciences
School of Physical Sciences
Assistant Professor (Joint), Molecular Biology and Biochemistry
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Charlie Dunlop School of Biological Sciences
Assistant Professor (Joint), Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences
Ph.D., California Institute of Chemistry, 2017, Chemistry
B.S., Tulane University, 2010, Biological Chemistry
B.A., Tulane University, 2010, French
B.F.A., Tulane University, 2010, Music Performance
B.S., Tulane University, 2010, Biological Chemistry
B.A., Tulane University, 2010, French
B.F.A., Tulane University, 2010, Music Performance
ORCiD: 0000-0001-9549-4418
University of California, Irvine
2131 Natural Sciences II
Mail Code: 2025
Irvine, CA 92697
2131 Natural Sciences II
Mail Code: 2025
Irvine, CA 92697
Research Interests
chemical biology, gut microbiota, glycoscience, carbohydrates, host-microbial interactions, immunity, immune activation, cancer immunotherapy
Websites
Appointments
Postdoctoral fellow
- Hang Lab, The Rockefeller University and Scripps Research, 2018-2022
- Hang Lab, The Rockefeller University and Scripps Research, 2018-2022
Research Abstract
Our laboratory develops and employs chemical biology tools to discover how human microbiota communicate with their host. Our work focuses on identifying microbial products like carbohydrates or glycans that can act as signaling molecules for the mammalian immune system. By deciphering how molecules produced in our gut can alter immune responses, we hope to better understand how defined microbes and their metabolites can be used as next-generation therapeutics, with the ultimate goal of learning how we can better prescribe probiotics to control host immunity and improve immunotherapy responses.
Awards and Honors
2025 - NIH DP2 Office of the Director's New Innovator Award
2024 - Arnold and Mabel Beckman Young Investigator
2023 - V Scholar Award and V Abeloff Award
2023 - NCI K22 Transition Career Development Award
2019 - Melanoma Research Foundation Career Development Award
2019 - Hope Funds for Cancer Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
2011 - National Science Foundation Graduate Student Research Fellowship
2024 - Arnold and Mabel Beckman Young Investigator
2023 - V Scholar Award and V Abeloff Award
2023 - NCI K22 Transition Career Development Award
2019 - Melanoma Research Foundation Career Development Award
2019 - Hope Funds for Cancer Research Postdoctoral Fellowship
2011 - National Science Foundation Graduate Student Research Fellowship
Grants
NIH Office of the Director's New Innovator Award,
DP2AT013749 (2025), "Chemical glycobiology tools to decipher host-microbiota interactions"
Arnold and Mabel Beckman Young Investigator Award (2024)
V Abeloff Scholar Award (2023)
NIH K22 National Cancer Institute Career Transition Award, K22CA272915 (2023), "Augmenting cancer checkpoint immunotherapies via microbially-derived metabolites"
Graduate Programs
Cellular and Molecular Biosciences
Chemistry
Pharmacological Sciences
Research Centers
Link to this profile
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=7156
https://faculty.uci.edu/profile/?facultyId=7156
Last updated
03/25/2026
03/25/2026