Findings

Read about Hobart Harris, M.D., M.Ph., in the March 2002 issue.

Physician-Scientist
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, CA

Hobart Harris grew up wanting to become a doctor. He graduated high school at the age of 16 to begin pursuing this career. He achieved his goal and, in the process, also became a scientist who studies the immune system.

The immune system fights off infections we encounter, but sometimes it’s not enough and triggers a potentially fatal body-wide infection called sepsis. The most deadly form of sepsis is caused by bacteria that contain harmful endotoxin molecules. Harris is looking at how fats in the body affect these molecules, and his work could result in better treatments for a dangerous disease.    

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