Michelle Epstein MD, FRCPC

Dr. Michelle Epstein is a physician-scientist with dual expertise in clinical allergy and basic immunology. She completed her medical degree at the University of Alberta in Canada, trained in Internal Medicine at the University of British Columbia, and specialized in Allergy and Clinical Immunology at Yale University. Her postdoctoral work in immunology was carried out at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and the NIH, focusing on the fundamental mechanisms driving immunologic disease. Currently based at the Medical University of Vienna, Dr. Epstein leads research into the initiation and maintenance of allergic responses, especially asthma and food allergy, using advanced mouse models and a focus on resident memory T-helper 2 cells. Her work also explores immune responses to biomaterials and the allergenicity of novel food proteins, including those from edible insects. Dr. Epstein is active in several international scientific networks, EU research consortia, and policy advisory bodies, including EFSA’s GMO Safety Panel.