Timothy A. Springer

Timothy "Tim" A. Springer, Ph.D. is an immunologist and Latham Family Professor at Harvard Medical School.[1] Springer is best known for his pioneering work in discovering the first integrins[2][3] and intercellular adhesion molecules (ICAMs)[4] and elucidating how these cell adhesion molecules function in the immune system. His innovative use of monoclonal antibodies in his research[3][5][6] paved the way for the development of therapeutic antibodies, known as selective adhesion molecule inhibitors, to treat autoimmune diseases. In recent years, Springer's research interest has expanded to include malaria, transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling molecules, and von Willebrand factor.[7][8]

Timothy A. Springer
Alma materHarvard University, University of California, Berkeley
Scientific career
FieldsBiology, Immunology, Structural Biology
InstitutionsBoston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Doctoral advisorJack Strominger
WebsiteSpringer Lab
Springer Lab Overview

Education and training

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, 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.[5] His research encompasses the cell adhesion molecules and chemotactic signals involved in lymphocyte migration in health and disease.

Business career

When Moderna Therapeutics launched its IPO in December 2018, Springer became the company's fourth-largest shareholder and made $400 million, after investing $5 million in the startup early on. Earlier, he had made around $100 million on his first venture LeukoSite, which in 1999 had been bought by Millennium Pharmaceuticals.[9] Springer is also a founder of biotechnology companies Morphic Therapeutic[10] and Scholar Rock.[11] He is also a main investor in Selecta Biosciences.[12] During the coronavirus pandemic crisis, Springer became a billionaire boosting his net worth to more than $1 billion after shares of biotech surge.[13] He has a stake in Moderna Inc, the U.S biotech firm attempting to develop a vaccine for the coronavirus.[14]

Philanthropy

In 2017, Springer co-founded the Institute for Protein Innovation (IPI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.[15] Springer donated a $10 million foundational grant to the IPI.[16]

Awards

Selected publications
  • Doud, M.B.; Koksal, A.C.; Mi, L-Z.; Song, G. Lu; Springer, T.A. (2012). "An unexpected fold in the circumsporozoite protein target of malaria vaccines". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 109 (20): 7817–22. doi:10.1073/pnas.1205737109. PMC 3356675. PMID 22547819.
  • Springer, T.A.; Dustin, M.L. (2012). "Integrin Inside-Out Signaling and the Immunological Synapse". Curr Opin Cell Biol. 24 (1): 107–115. doi:10.1016/j.ceb.2011.10.004. PMC 3294052. 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 (7351): 343–349. doi:10.1038/nature10152. PMC 4717672. PMID 21677751.

References
  1. Springer CV
  2. Kürzinger K, Reynolds T, Germain RN, Davignon D, Martz E, Springer TA (1981). "A novel lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1): cellular distribution, quantitative expression, and structure". J. Immunol. 127 (2): 596–602. PMID 6788846.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  3. Sanchez-Madrid F, Krensky AM, Ware CF, Robbins E, Strominger JL, Burakoff SJ, Springer TA (1982). "Three distinct antigens associated with human T-lymphocyte-mediated cytolysis: LFA-1, LFA-2, and LFA-3". Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 79 (23): 7489–93. Bibcode:1982PNAS...79.7489S. doi:10.1073/pnas.79.23.7489. PMC 347365. PMID 6984191.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  4. Rothlein R, Dustin ML, Marlin SD, Springer TA (1986). "A human intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) distinct from LFA-1". J Immunol. 137 (4): 1270–4. PMID 3525675.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  5. Davignon, D; Martz, E; Reynolds, T; Kürzinger, K; Springer, TA (1981). "Lymphocyte function-associated antigen 1 (LFA-1) a surface antigen distinct from Lyt-2,3 that participates in T lymphocyte-mediated killing". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 78 (7): 4535–9. doi:10.1073/pnas.78.7.4535. PMC 319826. PMID 7027264.
  6. Springer TA (1990). "Adhesion receptors of the immune system". Nature. 346 (6283): 425–34. Bibcode:1990Natur.346..425S. doi:10.1038/346425a0. PMID 1974032. S2CID 2154164.
  7. "Timothy A. Springer - Faculty Profile".
  8. "Springer Lab - Research Projects".
  9. Term Sheet: The 2018 State of Startups, Fortune
  10. GSK, Pfizer, AbbVie back next-gen integrin drugs in $52M Series A, FierceBiotech
  11. Cambridge biotech Scholar Rock gets $80m in deal with Gilead, Boston Globe
  12. Gormley, Brian (2017-07-19). "Biotech Entrepreneur Timothy Springer Has Another Act". Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  13. Tognini, Giacomo. "Exclusive: Meet The Harvard Professor Who Became A Billionaire Thanks To Coronavirus". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-05-19.
  14. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-04-22/harvard-professor-notches-17-000-return-on-early-moderna-wager
  15. Biotech Entrepreneur Timothy Springer Has Another Act, The Wall Street Journal
  16. Institute for Protein Innovation Launched at Harvard with $15M in Grants, Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News
  17. "American Academy of Arts and Sciences List of Active Members by Class" (PDF). Retrieved 4 March 2014.
  18. Förare, Jonas (2004-01-29). "White-blood-cell migration explained" (Press release). Sweden: Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 2014-01-03.
  19. Brooks, Andrew. "Guggenheim selects seven faculty, affiliates". Harvard Gazette.
  20. Zambon, Kat. "AAAS Council Elects 388 New AAAS Fellows".
  21. "2014 AAI Award Recipients".
  22. "The American Society of Hematology Honors Geraldine P. Schechter, MD, and Timothy Springer, PhD, with 2014 Henry M. Stratton Medal".
  23. 2019 Canada Gairdner International Award
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