Michael Olin, PhD
Dr. Olin is Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology.
Dr. Olin graduated from the University of Minnesota, Duluth, in 1995 with a BS in biochemistry and a BA in chemistry. After graduating, he worked in industry for 5 years before returning to the U of M to complete his PhD in Veterinary Medicine (Infectious Disease) in 2005. From 2006-2008 Dr. Olin did a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Philip Peterson studying the effects of opioids on tuberculosis meningitis, and from 2008-2011 he did a second post doctoral fellowship with Dr. John Ohlfest in brain tumor immunotherapy. Dr. Olin joined the Department of Pediatrics Faculty as an Assistant Professor in 2011.
Education
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics
Faculty Member, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Faculty Member, Brain Tumor Program
Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN
PhD, Infectious Disease, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
BA & BS, Chemistry, Hydrogeology, Biochemistry, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Awards & Recognition
- Team Science Award, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota (2020)
- Co-chair Alumni Research Network Program, American Brain Tumor Association (2014)
- Elected into the American Brain Tumor Alumni Research Network Program (2013)
- Young Investigators Award, PharmacoNeuroImmunology Research Society (2002)
- Young Investigators Award, Society of NeuroImmune Interaction and Pharmacology (2001)
Research
Research Summary/Interests
Dr. Olin’s scientific interest is defining the mechanism(s) of suppression inhibiting the ability to mount a tumoricidal response evident in the tumor draining lymph nodes and tumor environment and developed potential ways to modulate the immunosuppressive activity. Immunosuppressive tumor environment is a major hurdle for the immune system to overcome. Dr. Olin is focused on the development of inhibitors derived to overcome the suppressive tumor microenvironment.