Benjamin tenOever, PhD, Irene and Dr. Arthur M. Fishberg Professor of Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Dr. tenOever is Director of the Virus Engineering Center for Therapeutics and Research (VECToR). His research program focuses on the biology of viruses and the way cells have evolved to defend themselves against infection. More specifically, the lab studies what constitutes different cellular defense systems, how these systems have been shaped over time, and how viruses circumvent them and cause disease. This information is then used to build novel virus-based tools for a diverse array of therapeutic applications. Dr. tenOever has research interests in biodefense, cellular immunity, virus biology, and molecular biochemistry. His lab has made several important discoveries about how COVID-19 affects the human body.
Having grown up in a small community in Canada, Ben tenOever was attracted to pursuing his academic career in New York City because of its vitality and diversity. “Being in New York makes it easy to find diverse scientists who are open to different ideas,” he says. “I find that in New York City, people are nonjudgmental thinkers who don’t have traditional mindsets, even about science. There is no place for bias here. If you are judgmental about what’s different, then you are not going to make it here.”
Scientifically, Dr. tenOever appreciates working with a team that has had diverse training and a competitive spirit. His team of a dozen scientists hails from many different countries, representing the world’s cultures and including many LGBT researchers.
“I’ve found that people from varied cultures and socioeconomic backgrounds approach scientific problems differently,” he says. “Some may be more analytical and attack a problem in a systematic way, while others show more creative and non-traditional approaches. A combination of these styles leads us to new and productive thinking.”
At the virus engineering center Dr. tenOever leads, a virus discovery program is dedicated to identifying novel microbe-based components that can be retooled for therapeutic applications. The success of the program demands a team of many diverse individuals.
To start, the program requires people, generally high school students, who are inherently interested in nature and its details on a macro level. These individuals catalogue and process microbial samples. Their work must be mentored by trained scientists, generally altruistic individuals with patience who take seriously the power of mentorship to train and advance these young students.
“Being in New York makes it easy to find diverse scientists who are open to different ideas.”
The next phase of this program requires computational processing followed by meticulous biochemistry. These two areas demand extensive dedication, time commitment, and more classical academic training.
“The success of this program is dependent on the diverse individuals who move each step forward,’ says Dr. tenOever.
He also cites the value of having team members from developing parts of the world. “When you work with people who directly faced public health threats with HIV, malaria, or tuberculosis, for example, they are even more motivated to find new science to overcome these devastating illnesses. There also is a greater level of compassion. This all adds a level of intensity to the work because the need is so real,” he comments.
“There is no room for intolerance in my lab or at Mount Sinai,” he says. “Embracing diversity makes us all stronger.”
Photo Credit: Claudia Paul, January-February 2020