Wendy Havran

Wendy Havran (September 1, 1955 – January 20, 2020) was an American immunologist at the Scripps Research Institute. 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, where she learned about immunology and received a bachelor's degree in zoology. Havran completed her post-doctoral training with Dr. James P. Allison at the University of California. This is where she earned the Lucille P. Markey Scholar in Biomedical grant.

Havran also served as a professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Diego. She also served as a member of the American Association of Immunologists. At Scripps, havran served as associate dean of the Skaggs graduate School of Chemical and Biological Sciences.

Havran died at the age of 64 on January 20, 2020, because of complications following a heart attack. She has also investigated the role of T-cells in oily substances found in the skin. Her research found that sebum ( a hydrophobic substance secreted onto outermost layer of skin) may prevent self- reactive T-cells from being exposed to their antigens because of an epidermal skin barrier . More research is being done in this field.

Some of her research also includes data on Intraepithelial γδ T cells and how they interact with epithelial cells. Epithelial cells like skin cells are the first line of defense against microorganisms and this is done with T-cells. Havran's research shows that Intraepithelial cells can help epithelial cells with homeostasis, tissue repair, and inflammation. In mice, when there was an absence of these cells, dysregulation occurred showing that there is cross talk between epithelial cells & intraepithelial lymphocyte's.

Havran has also made significant discoveries such as that discrete γδ T cell subsets come from waves of progenitors. She also has done studies in tissue-resident dendritic epidemeral γδ T-cells that originated from the fetus and the benefits of these cells including wound healing. In addition, she has been involved in research concerning how γδ T cells can initiate a tumor- protective response. This was examined through the observation of epithelial tissues in mouse skin and the presence of T cells in immunosurveillance.

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

Cross-talk between intraepithelial γδ T cells and epithelial cells Oiling the wheels of autoimmunity

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 2019