Philippa Marrack facts for kids
Philippa "Pippa" Marrack (born June 28, 1945) is a famous English scientist. She is an immunologist, which means she studies the body's immune system. Dr. Marrack lives in the United States. She is best known for her important discoveries about T cells. These are special cells that help your body fight off sickness. She works as a professor at National Jewish Health and the University of Colorado Denver.
Quick facts for kids
Philippa Marrack
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| Born | 28 June 1945 Ewell, England
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| Other names | Pippa Marrack |
| Alma mater | New Hall, Cambridge (University of Cambridge) (M.A., Ph.D) |
| Known for | discovery of T cell receptor, discovery of superantigens, T cells, autoimmune disease |
| Spouse(s) | John W. Kappler |
| Awards | Member, National Academy of Sciences (1989) Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize (1995) Dickson Prize (1996) Fellow, Royal Society (1997) L'Oréal-UNESCO Award for Women in Science (2004) National Women's Hall of Fame (2015) Wolf Prize in Medicine (2015) |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Immunology |
| Institutions | University of California, San Diego University of Rochester National Jewish Health University of Colorado Denver HHMI MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology |
| Doctoral advisor | Alan Munro |
Contents
About Philippa Marrack
Philippa Marrack was born in Ewell, England, on June 28, 1945. Her father was in the Royal Navy. Because of this, her family moved around a lot when she was a child. The longest she lived in one place was in Cambridge, England. This is where she started college.
After college, Dr. Marrack moved to the United States. She continued her research there. In the U.S., she met her husband and research partner, John W. Kappler. They have worked together on many important science projects. They have two children. Outside of science, Philippa Marrack enjoys playing the piano. She also likes running with her dogs.
Her Education
Dr. Marrack went to Cambridge University in England. She earned her first degree in 1967. She then earned her Ph.D. (a very high degree) in 1970. During her Ph.D. studies, she worked at the MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology. There, she started studying the differences between T cells and B cells. These are two important types of cells in your immune system.
After Cambridge, Dr. Marrack moved to San Diego, California. She did more research there. She learned a lot about how to run a lab and how to think like a scientist.
Her Career in Science
Dr. Marrack met her husband, John W. Kappler, while doing research in San Diego. Her first job as a professor was at the University of Rochester. There, she taught college students about immunology. She and John Kappler started a research lab together.
Later, she became a professor at National Jewish Health in Denver, Colorado. She also worked at the University of Colorado Denver. She has written over 300 scientific articles. Her work has made her one of the most important female researchers in the country.
Important Discoveries
In 1983, Philippa Marrack and John Kappler made a huge discovery. They found and isolated the T cell receptor. This is like an antenna on T cells. It helps them recognize invaders in the body.
In 1987, Dr. Marrack learned something amazing about the immune system. She found out how the body gets rid of T cells that might attack its own healthy tissues. These "bad" T cells are destroyed in a place called the thymus. This stops them from causing problems. If these destructive cells are not destroyed, they can cause autoimmune diseases. Examples include diabetes and Multiple sclerosis.
In 1990, Dr. Marrack and Dr. Kappler discovered superantigens. These are powerful toxins. They can make a huge number of T cells react at once. This can cause very strong and harmful immune responses. For example, they can cause toxic shock syndrome or severe food poisoning.
Currently, Dr. Marrack is studying why some autoimmune diseases are more common in women. Her work has greatly helped us understand vaccines, HIV, and other immune problems.
Her Work in the Scientific Community
Dr. Marrack has been part of many important science groups. She has worked on the boards of scientific journals like Cell and Science. She has also served on committees for groups like the American Cancer Society.
From 1986 to 2017, she was an investigator for the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. She was also the president of the American Association of Immunologists from 2000 to 2001. She became a member of the National Academy of Sciences in 1989. She also became a Fellow of the Royal Society in Great Britain in 1997.
Awards and Honors
Dr. Marrack has received many awards for her amazing work. Some of them include:
- 1990 – Feodor Lynen Medal
- 1991 – William B. Coley Award
- 1993 – Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize
- 1994 – Louisa Gross Horwitz Prize
- 1995 – FASEB Excellence in Science Award
- 1996 – Dickson Prize in Medicine
- 1997 – Fellow of the Royal Society
- 1999 – Howard Taylor Ricketts Prize
- 2000 – Lifetime Achievement Award, American Association of Immunologists
- 2004 – L'Oreal UNESCO Women in Science Award
- 2005 – Pearl Meister Greengard Prize
- 2006 – Avery-Landsteiner Prize
- 2010 – Inducted into the Colorado Women's Hall of Fame
- 2015 – Wolf Prize in Medicine
- 2015 – Inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame
- 2016 – Novartis Prize for Basic Immunology
- 2019 – Clarivate Citation Laureate
See also
In Spanish: Philippa Marrack para niños
