Timothy A. Springer

Timothy A. Springer
File:Dr. Timothy A. Springer.jpg
Fields	Biology, Immunology, Structural Biology
Institutions	Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Alma mater	Harvard University
Doctoral advisor	Jack Strominger
Website Springer Lab Springer Lab Overview

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.

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

• 1993 American Heart Association Basic Research Prize
• 1995 Cancer Research Institute William B. Coley Award
• 1996 Member, National Academy of Sciences
• 2001 Fellow, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
• 2004 Crafoord Prize
• 2004 Guggenheim Fellowship
• 2013 AAAS Fellow
• 2014 AAI-Life Technologies Meritorious Career Award, American Association of Immunologists
• 2014 Henry M. Stratton Medal American Society of Hematology

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.