Dr. Arlene Helen Sharpe stands as a preeminent leader in immunological research, fundamentally reshaping our understanding of immune regulation and its therapeutic applications. She currently holds the distinguished position of Kolokotrones University Professor and Chair of the Department of Immunology at Harvard Medical School while also serving as a member of the Department of Pathology at Brigham and Women's Hospital and an Associate Member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Having earned her A.B. in Biochemistry from Radcliffe College (affiliated with Harvard University) in 1975, PhD in Microbiology and Molecular Genetics in 1981, and MD from Harvard Medical School in 1982, she completed her pathology residency at Brigham and Women's Hospital before joining the Harvard Medical School faculty in 1992. Her career trajectory has been marked by significant leadership appointments including her service as the hundredth president of the American Association of Immunologists from 2016 to 2017 and her current role as Co-Director of the Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases.
Dr. Sharpe's groundbreaking research on T cell costimulatory pathways has revolutionized the field of immunotherapy through her seminal work elucidating the immunoinhibitory functions of CTLA-4 and PD-1 pathways which have become critical targets for cancer treatment. Her laboratory pioneered the discovery that PD-L1 and PD-L2 are ligands for PD-1 capable of inhibiting both naïve and effector T cells revealing a novel mechanism by which tumors evade immune surveillance. These insights directly informed the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors that have transformed cancer treatment paradigms providing durable responses for previously untreatable malignancies. Her additional research demonstrating that blockade of the PD-1 pathway can restore function to exhausted T cells during chronic viral infection has opened new therapeutic avenues for persistent infectious diseases as well as cancer with her work cited extensively as foundational knowledge in the field.
Beyond her laboratory discoveries Dr. Sharpe has profoundly influenced the broader scientific landscape through her leadership in major research consortia including the MassCPR established in March 2020 to respond to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and prepare for emerging pathogens. She has been instrumental in training the next generation of immunologists while receiving prestigious recognition including the William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Tumor Immunology in 2014 the Warren Alpert Foundation Prize in 2017 and the Harrington Prize for Innovation in Medicine. Her current research continues to explore the complex roles of T cell costimulatory pathways in regulating immune tolerance antimicrobial immunity and antitumor responses maintaining her position at the forefront of translational immunology. As a member of the National Academy of Sciences and a highly cited researcher consistently recognized by Thomas Reuters Dr. Sharpe remains a guiding force in advancing our understanding of immune regulation and its therapeutic applications for human disease.
