Mohamed H. Sayegh, M.D.

Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Warren E. Grupe and John P. Merrill Transplantation Medicine Chair, Harvard Medical School, USA

Title: Interactions between tregs and immunosuppression in transplantation

Abstract:

Current immunosuppressive regimens suppress alloimmunity by non-specifically targeting T cell proliferation, differentiation and activation. In doing so, they have been effective in dramatically reducing rates of acute rejection and improving short-term allograft survival.  However, this is often at the expense of over-immunosuppression.  Furthermore, chronic rejection remains a significant problem. CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) act to counterbalance effector mechanisms in immune homeostasis.  Their function has been shown to be critical in autoimmune disease, transplantation and allergy and inflammation. In this article, we will explore the current knowledge of Treg immunobiology in experimental transplant models, as well as in human organ transplantation.  The impact of current immunosuppressive agents on Tregs will be reviewed, and future promising targets for Treg-based therapies will be explored.

Biography:

Dr. Mohamed H. Sayegh is the Warren E. Grupe and John P. Merrill Endowed Chair in Transplantation Medicine, Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, and Director, Schuster Family Transplantation Research Center, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital Boston.

Dr. Sayegh is a world leader in transplantation, renal medicine and transplantation immunobiology research. In his field, he has made substantial and landmark contributions. He has published >200 original articles in addition to large number of reviews, editorials and book chapters. He has also edited several books in nephrology and transplantation. Importantly, he is extremely well funded with active NIH RO1, PPG, UO1 and Foundation Grants.

As Director of the Transplantation Research Center he leads a Center with more than 60 faculty, trainees and staff members. The Center is highly successful with approximately 10-15 million dollars budget; most of the funding is from NIH sources.

Dr. Sayegh served as Council Member and President (2000-2001) of the American Society of Transplantation (AST). He served as the chair of the Transplant Advisory Board of the American Society of Nephrology (ASN). He also served as the Chair of AST Program, Education and Development Committees, as the chair of the 2005 ASN Program Committee, and the chair of the Program Committee of the 2006 World Transplant Congress and the 2007 World Congress of Nephrology. He is the active co-chair of the Steering Committee of the NIH Immune Tolerance Network and Member of the Executive Committee. He also served as chair of the Steering Committee of the NIH consortium, Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation (CTOT).

Dr. Sayegh is an outstanding mentor. He trained tens of investigators who are active leaders in renal and transplant programs around the world. In recognition of this he recently was awarded the 2008 first Mentoring Award of the American Society of Transplantation.

He is recipient of many highly distinguished and prestigious awards and honors including:

1983 Alpha Omega Alpha
1984 MD Diploma with Distinction (Honors)
1989 UPJOHN Young Investigator Award, American Society of Transplant Physicians
1991-1992 Ortho-Grant-In-Aid Young Investigator Award, American Society of Transplant Physicians
1996-1999 Clinician Scientist Award, National Kidney Foundation
1997 First Young Scientist Award, Wyeth-Ayerst-American Society of Transplant Physicians
2008 First Mentoring Award, American Society of Transplantation
2008 NKF's Shaul G. Massry Distinguished Lecture Award

Dr. Sayegh also serves or is serving as:

2001-2005 Associate Editor, Journal of American Society of Nephrology
2002- Consulting Editor, Journal of Clinical Investigation
2005- Section Editor, Journal of Immunology
2005- Deputy Editor, Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology

Dr. Sayegh is also a strong international leader. He serves as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Board and member of the Board of Trustees of the Harvard Dubai Foundation.