User:Kelly115/Wendy Havran

Wendy Havran
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wendy Havran (September 1, 1955 – January 20, 2020) was an American immunologist at the Scripps Research Institute and Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at Scripps Research. She specialized in T cells, showing that they are scarce in certain areas of the body.

Life
Havran was born in Houston, Texas, and would visit science museums and natural parks with her family. She attended Duke University in 1973, where she learned about immunology and attended the University of Chicago and worked in the laboratory of Dr.Frank Fitch for her doctorate degree.

Havran opened her lab with Scripps in 1991. The research she started led her to introduce the gamma-delta T cells. These cells play a role in helping wounds heal.

Havran has served as a professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. She served as a member of the American Association of Immunologists.

Havran died at the age of 64 on January 20, 2020, because of complications following a heart attack.

Research
Havran research has been centered in T-cell, specifically epidermal T-cell's.

Havran research has included research in epithelial cells and how changes in these cells can trigger specific pathways affecting the immune system. This includes negative changes like inflammation due to misfolded proteins and positive changes such as avoidance of immunopathology.

Havran has also generated one of the first antibodies against the gamma-delta TCR and demonstrated that the diversity of the T cell compartment in the skin is restricted by use of a single V gamma gene segment. Her research included

Publications
Havran have published many papers on T-cells including those such as:


 * Epithelial decision makers: in search of the 'epimmunome'
 * Gamma Delta T-Cells (γδ T Cells) in Health and Disease

Honors and Awards

 * Lucille P. Markey Scholarship in Biomedical Science grant in 1989
 * Outstanding Mentor by the Society of Fellows in 2018
 * American Association of Immunologists Distinguished Fellows in 2018