Dr. Ulrich Von Andrian

Biography

Ulrich H. Von Andrian is the Edward Mallinckrodt Jr. Professor of Immunopathology at Harvard Medical School. His research focuses on understanding how circulating cells manage to exit the bloodstream and home to distinct organs and tissues, which is crucial for various physiological functions and the development of diseases. He has made significant advancements in the field through sophisticated in vitro methodologies that simulate the complex interplay of physical, cellular, and biochemical factors affecting blood cell behavior within microvessels. Utilizing intravital microscopy, Von Andrian studies the molecular mechanisms of blood-borne cell interactions with the intact vascular wall, observing them in lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues in anesthetized mice. His approach involves assessing the behavior of leukocyte subsets through fluorescence video-microscopy and quantitative image analysis, revealing that leukocyte homing to target tissues necessitates an initial tethering step leading to rolling, followed by activation, stationary adhesion, and emigration. He works on dissecting site-specific adhesion cascades of diverse cell types, including myeloid and lymphoid cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and platelets in both normal and diseased tissues.

Research Interests

Experience