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Michael Silverman, MD, PhD
Michael Silverman
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Dr. Silverman studies the fundamental aspects of early-life commensal microbes that influence immune system development and function. He discovered that the MHC-II E molecule prevents type 1 diabetes by shaping the intestinal microbiota early in life.

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Bio

Dr. Silverman joined the faculty at CHOP in 2016 where his research program studies the long-term impacts of early-life interactions between commensal microbes and the developing immune system. His research accomplishments leverage knowledge of how these interactions with the immune system could prevent autoimmunity.

Genetic and Microbiota Impacts on T1D:
Demonstrated that major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII) molecules prevent autoimmune diabetes by shaping the intestinal microbiota early in ontogeny, which, in turn, impacts the development of the immune system.

Signal Transduction in Mast Cells:
Demonstrated that the adaptor protein SLP-76 was essential for FceRI mediated allergic and anaphylactic responses through its interaction with the adaptor protein Gads leading to the formation of highly coordinated signaling complex at the cell membrane.

Pediatric Eastern Equine Encephalitis:
Investigated the natural history of eastern equine encephalitis and described the important association between the clinical prodrome and eventual outcome. This work describes the largest collection of pediatric EEE cases in the literature.

Dr. Silverman also works in collaboration with several CHOP researchers:

  • Microbiome and selective IgA deficiency (collaboration with Sarah Henrickson)
  • Early-life microbiome and Clostridium difficile infection (collaboration with Joe Zackular)
  • Neonatal sepsis in Botswana (collaboration with Susan Coffin)
  • MHCII antigen presentation and T1D (collaboration with Ike Eisenlohr)
  • Human early-life microbiome and anti-commensal immune response (collaboration with Jeff Gerber)

Education and Training

BA, Cornell University, 1998

MD/PhD, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine (Immunology PhD), 2007

Pediatric Residency, Boston Children's Hospital, 2010

Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship, Boston Children's Hospital, 2013

Post-doctoral Fellowship, Harvard Medical School, 2016

Titles and Academic Titles

Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Attending Physician, Pediatric Infectious Disease, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Professional Memberships

American Academy of Pediatrics, 2007-

Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, 2010-

Infectious Disease Society of America, 2011-

Society of Mucosal Immunology, 2016-

American Association of Immunologists, 2018-

Professional Awards

Adolf J. Creskoff Prize for Research, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, 2006

The Fred Lovejoy Residency Research and Education Award, Boston Children's Hospital, 2009

Senior Resident Teaching Award, Boston Combined Residency Program, 2010

Graduation Speaker, Boston Children's Hospital, 2010

Fellow Teaching Award, Boston Combined Residency Program, 2011

Pediatric Infectious Disease Fellowship Award, Pediatric Infectious Disease Society, 2011

JDRF Advanced Post-doctoral Fellowship Award, 2013

K08 NIAID, Clinical Science Mentored Career Development Award, 2015 

JDRF Career Development Award, 2020

Publication Highlights

Active Grants/Contracts

Dissecting the interplay of MHC/HLA loci, the microbiota and autoimmune diabetes

  • NIH K08 AI114970-01
  • 01/06/15-12/31/20
  • The goal of this study is to explore interactions between diabetes-protective MHC/HLA molecules and intestinal microbiota.
  • Silverman, Michael A (PI)

A pediatric microbial community to dissect host-commensal interaction in type 1 diabetes

  • NIH R21
  • 2020-2022
  • The goal of this study is to use novel a gnotobiotic mouse colonized with a novel early life community of microbes to identify commensal microbes that prevent T1D.
  • Silverman, Michael A (PI)

Leveraging humoral immunity to promote commensal microbial protection from T1D

  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF)
  • 2020-2025
  • The goal of this study is to use novel antibody based approaches to identify commensal microbes that prevent T1D.
  • Silverman, Michael A (PI)

Discovery of small molecules that selectively suppress activation of diabetogenic CD4+ T cells

  • Foerderer Award, CHOP
  • Silverman, Michael A (collaborator)

Leveraging gnotobiotic mouse models of the early-life microbiome to dissect Salmonella pathogenesis in children

  • CHOP Junior Faculty Pilot Award
  • 2019-2020
  • The goal of this project is to use a novel gnotobiotic mouse model system to determine the contribution of early life microbiota and immune system components for pediatric enteric infections.
  • Silverman, Michael A (PI)