Benjamin Lewis Margolis, M.D.
Faculty Appointment:	Professor, Department of Internal Medicine
Additional Titles:	Professor, Biological Chemistry Associate Chair for Research, Internal Medicine Director, Student Biomedical Research Program Co-Director, Cancer Cell Biology Program
Specialty:	Nephrology
Research Interests:	Dr. Margolis studies protein complexes that regulate epithelial polarization. Epithelia polarization leads to the formation of two distinct cell surfaces referred to as basolateral and apical. These surfaces are separated by a sealing junction called the tight junction. Epithelial polarity is crucial for numerous cellular functions including barrier formation and fluid transport. The loss of epithelial polarity in a process called epithelial to mesenchymal transition is felt to occur in several diseases including cancer and fibrosis. We have focused on a complex of tight junction proteins containing Crumbs3, PALS1 and PATJ that regulates cell polarity and tight junction formation. The laboratory also studies this complex and other related protein complexes in cilia formation. Cilia are microtubule based structures that emanate from the apical surface of cells and are felt to be important in environmental sensing by epithelial cells. Defects in cilia formation and function are felt to contribute to renal cystic disease.
Degree:	M.D., 1981, University of Manitoba, Canada
Professional Organizational Fellowships:	ASN, American Society of Nephrologists ASCI, AHA, American Heart Association A.A.P., Association of American Physicians ASCB, American Society for Cell Biology
Residency:	1983-1985, Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center
Residency:	1985-1986, Clinical Neph., Univ. of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital, St. Michael's Hosp.
Fellowships:	Research, 1983, University of Texas Health Science Center Research (Nephrology), 1988, University of Toronto Post-Doc, 1989, Rorer Biotechnology, Inc.
Certifications:	1985, Internal Medicine 1988, Nephrology
Faculty Appointment Date:	8/10/1995
Academic office address	Biomedical Science Research Building 109 Zina Pitcher Place Room 1528 Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2200
Academic office telephone:	(734)615-2421
Academic office FAX:	(734)615-4356
E-mail Address:	bmargoli@umich.edu
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