Timothy Springer Email & Phone Number

Springer discovered with monoclonal antibodies and then cloned and functionally and structurally characterized many of the adhesion receptors in the immune system. He was the first to demonstrate that lymphocytes and leukocytes had adhesion molecules. His work on these receptors has advanced to characterizing their interactions and allosteric transitions by x-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, and laser tweezers force spectroscopy. Springer later discovered the three step paradigm for leukocyte diapedesis: 1) rolling adhesion of leukocytes on the vessel wall through a translating zone of selectin-carbohydrate adhesion; 2) activation of G protein-coupled receptors on the leukocyte by chemoattractants presented by vascular endothelium; and 3) activation of integrin adhesiveness for CAMs on endothelium, which mediates firm adhesion and leukocyte migration through the vessel wall. Springer’s academic interests now focus on how force interacts with protein conformational change to activate integrins, von Willebrand factor, transforming growth factor-β, bone morphogenetic proteins, and adhesins on malaria sporozoites. Springer has over 500 publications, a Hirsch index of 147, and over 30 patents. He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences and his honors include the Crafoord Prize, the American Association of Immunologists Meritorious Career Award, and the Stratton Medal from the American Society of Hematology.Springer is an investor in Selecta Bioscience since its B round and a founding investor in Moderna Therapeutics. He is founder and investor in Scholar Rock and in Morphic Rock Therapeutics. Current projects include a non-profit to produce open-source, synthetic antibodies to all extracellular proteins to speed therapeutic development and improve basic research globally. Another project is a dual-acting malaria vaccine, to both protect humans from being infected, and to prevent mosquitos from transmitting infection.