Philippa Marrack
Encyclopedia
Philippa "Pippa" Marrack FRS
is an English biologist, based in the United States, best-known for her research into T cell
development, T cell apoptosis
and survival, adjuvants
, autoimmune disease
, and for identifying superantigen
s, the mechanism behind toxic shock syndrome
. She collaborates with her husband, John W. Kappler.
with Alan Munro
, where she began to work on T cell
s. She later did postdoctoral work with Richard Dutton at the University of California, San Diego
.
Her first faculty position was with the University of Rochester
, followed by National Jewish Health
, Denver, Colorado and the University of Colorado
.
Royal Society
The Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
is an English biologist, based in the United States, best-known for her research into T cell
T cell
T cells or T lymphocytes belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, and play a central role in cell-mediated immunity. They can be distinguished from other lymphocytes, such as B cells and natural killer cells , by the presence of a T cell receptor on the cell surface. They are...
development, T cell apoptosis
Apoptosis
Apoptosis is the process of programmed cell death that may occur in multicellular organisms. Biochemical events lead to characteristic cell changes and death. These changes include blebbing, cell shrinkage, nuclear fragmentation, chromatin condensation, and chromosomal DNA fragmentation...
and survival, adjuvants
Immunologic adjuvant
In immunology, an adjuvant is an agent that may stimulate the immune system and increase the response to a vaccine, without having any specific antigenic effect in itself. The word “adjuvant” comes from the Latin word adiuvare, meaning to help or aid...
, autoimmune disease
Autoimmune disease
Autoimmune diseases arise from an overactive immune response of the body against substances and tissues normally present in the body. In other words, the body actually attacks its own cells. The immune system mistakes some part of the body as a pathogen and attacks it. This may be restricted to...
, and for identifying superantigen
Superantigen
Superantigens are a class of antigens which cause non-specific activation of T-cells resulting in oligoclonal T cell activation and massive cytokine release...
s, the mechanism behind toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome
Toxic shock syndrome is a potentially fatal illness caused by a bacterial toxin. Different bacterial toxins may cause toxic shock syndrome, depending on the situation. The causative bacteria include Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes...
. She collaborates with her husband, John W. Kappler.
Biography
Marrack was born in England, and completed both undergraduate and Ph.D. work at New Hall, Cambridge University. To earn her Ph.D, she worked at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular BiologyLaboratory of Molecular Biology
The Laboratory of Molecular Biology is a research institute in Cambridge, England, which was at the forefront of the revolution in molecular biology which occurred in the 1950–60s, since then it remains a major medical research laboratory with a much broader focus.-Early beginnings: 1947-61:Max...
with Alan Munro
Alan Munro
Alan James Munro is a British immunologist and entrepreneur.Munro was born in Madras, India and educated at the Edinburgh Academy. He attended the University of Cambridge, specialising in biochemistry...
, where she began to work on T cell
T cell
T cells or T lymphocytes belong to a group of white blood cells known as lymphocytes, and play a central role in cell-mediated immunity. They can be distinguished from other lymphocytes, such as B cells and natural killer cells , by the presence of a T cell receptor on the cell surface. They are...
s. She later did postdoctoral work with Richard Dutton at the University of California, San Diego
University of California, San Diego
The University of California, San Diego, commonly known as UCSD or UC San Diego, is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego, California, United States...
.
Her first faculty position was with the University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, followed by National Jewish Health
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
National Jewish Health is a research institute located in Denver, Colorado specializing in respiratory, immune and allergic research and treatment. It was founded in 1899 to treat tuberculosis, and is today considered one of the world's best medical research and treatment centers...
, Denver, Colorado and the University of Colorado
University of Colorado Denver
The University of Colorado Denver, shortened as CU Denver, UC Denver, or UCD, is a public university in the United States state of Colorado. It is one of three schools of the University of Colorado system. The university has two campuses — one in downtown Denver at the Auraria Campus, and the other...
.
Significant papers
- J.W. Kappler, M. Roehm, P. Marrack, "T cell tolerance by clonal elimination in the thymus," Cell, v.49, n.2, pp. 273–80 (1987)
- P. Marrack and J. Kappler, "The Staphylococcal Enterotoxins and Their Relatives," Science, v.248 (4956), pp. 705–11 (1990).
- J.W. Kappler, U. Staerz, J. White, P.C. Marrack, "Self-Tolerance Eliminates T Cells Specific for MIS-Modified Products of the Major Histocompatibility Complex," Nature, 332 (6159): pp. 35–40 (1988).
- J. White, et al. (P.C. Marrack), "The V(beta)-specific superantigen staphylococcal enterotoxin B: Stimulation of mature T cells and clonal deletions in neonatal mice," Cell, v.56, n.1, pp. 27–35 (1989).
Awards
- 1986 - Appointed Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical InstituteHoward Hughes Medical InstituteHoward Hughes Medical Institute is a United States non-profit medical research organization based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. It was founded by the American businessman Howard Hughes in 1953. It is one of the largest private funding organizations for biological and medical research in the United...
- 1987 - Fellow (elected), Royal SocietyRoyal SocietyThe Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge, known simply as the Royal Society, is a learned society for science, and is possibly the oldest such society in existence. Founded in November 1660, it was granted a Royal Charter by King Charles II as the "Royal Society of London"...
- 1989 - Elected member, National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
- 1990 - Royal Society Wellcome Foundation Prize
- 1993 - Cancer Research Institute William B. Coley AwardWilliam B. Coley AwardThe William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Basic and Tumor Immunology is presented annually by the Cancer Research Institute, Inc., to scientists who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of basic and tumor immunology and whose work has deepened our understanding of the...
- 1993 - Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter PrizePaul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter PrizeThe Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize is given every year since 1952 for investigations in medicine. The prize carries a prize money of 100.000 Euro. The prize awarding ceremony is traditionally on March 14, the birthday of Paul Ehrlich, in the St. Pauls-Church, Frankfurt.Awarded are...
- 1994/95 - Louisa Gross Horwitz PrizeLouisa Gross Horwitz PrizeLouisa Gross Horwitz Prize for Biology or Biochemistry is an annual prize awarded by Columbia University to a researcher or group of researchers that have made an outstanding contribution in basic research in the fields of biology or biochemistry....
- 2003 - Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association of Immunologists
- 2004 - L'Oreal UNESCO Women in Science Award
- 2005 - Pearl Meister Greengard PrizePearl Meister Greengard PrizeThe Pearl Meister Greengard Prize is an award for women scientists in biology given annually by .The Prize was founded by Nobel laureate Paul Greengard and his wife Ursula von Rydingsvard in honor of Greengard's mother, Pearl Meister Greengard, who died giving birth to him. Greengard began funding...
- Rabbi Shai Shackner Prize (University of Jerusalem)
Further reading
- HHMI Profile of work
- "Becoming a Scientist", Philippa Marrack, HHMI
- "Philippa Marrack Targets T Cells and Autoimmune Disease", ScienceWatch
- Christine Bahls, "Philippa Marrack", 'The Scientist v.18, n.6, p. 13 (2004).
- "Profile: Philippa Marrack", Nature Medicine, v.10, n.12.