Alma mater Harvard University Name Timothy Springer | ||
Institutions Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School Awards Guggenheim Fellowship for Natural Sciences, US & Canada Fields Biology, Immunology, Structural biology Similar People Jack L Strominger, Pamela J Bjorkman, Hans‑Georg Rammensee | ||
Education Harvard University (1976) Doctoral advisor Jack L. Strominger | ||
Timothy "Tim" A. Springer, Ph.D. is an immunologist and Latham Family Professor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Springer is best known for his pioneering work in discovering the first integrins and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs) and elucidating how these cell adhesion molecules function in the immune system. His innovative use of monoclonal antibodies in his research paved the way for the development of therapeutic antibodies, known as selective adhesion molecule inhibitors, to treat autoimmune diseases. In recent years, Dr. Springer's research interest has expanded to include malaria, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling molecules, and von Willebrand factor.
Contents
Education and Training
Dr. Springer attended the University of California, Berkeley where he majored in Biochemistry. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa with Distinction and the Departmental Citation, he went on to do his Ph.D. in the lab of Jack Strominger at Harvard University. Following his graduate work, Dr. Springer received his postdoctoral training under the guidance of César Milstein at the University of Cambridge.
Research focus
His lab elucidated different steps in the homing process of lymphocytes with a special focus on the integrin LFA-1. His research encompasses the cell adhesion molecules and chemotactic signals involved in lymphocyte migration in health and disease.
Awards
Selected publications
Doud, M.B., Koksal, A.C., Mi, L-Z., Song, G. Lu, C., Springer, T.A.. (2012) An unexpected fold in the circumsporozoite protein target of malaria vaccines. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 109: 7817-22. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1205737109. PMID 22547819.
Springer, T.A. and Dustin, M.L.. (2012) Integrin Inside-Out Signaling and the Immunological Synapse. Curr Opin Cell Biol 24: 107-115. doi:10.1016/j.ceb.2011.10.004. PMID 22129583.
Shi, M., Zhu, J., Wang, R., Chen, X., Mi, L., Walz, T., Springer, T.A.. (2011) Latent TGF-β structure and activation. Nature 474: 343-349. doi: 10.1038/nature10152. PMID 21677751.