Ellis Reinherz is known for his basic scientific research that revealed key functional and structural information about cell surface receptors on T lymphocytes called T cell receptors and their co-receptors, CD4 and CD8. Monoclonal antibodies against these structures are used today in termination of human organ transplant rejection, as well as for treatment of other medical conditions and serve as important human diagnostic reagents. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in 1971, graduating summa cum laude, and his M.D. from Harvard Medical School in 1975. After completing an internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital in 1977, and clinical and research fellowships in hematology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in 1978, he joined the faculty at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 1979. He is currently a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and serves as chief of the Laboratory of Immunobiology and Director of the Cancer Vaccine Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He is the author of approximately 375 scientific research articles.
