Shreffler Lecture

In honor of Donald C. Shreffler, a pioneer in immunogenetics

In 1967, a review of Washington University School of Medicine (WUSM) called for the establishment of a department of genetics. In 1975, Donald Shreffler, a pioneer in immunogenetics, was recruited to Washington University and with support from the McDonnell Foundation, created the Department of Genetics and became its first Chair. Dr. Shreffler served as Professor of Genetics from 1975-1994, and from 1977-1984 he was the James S. McDonnell Professor and Head of the Department of Genetics.

Dr. Shreffler’s research centered on the studies of the structure and function of genes in the major histocompatibility complex. He became well known for his studies focused on the structure and function of genes in the H2 major histocompatibility region of the mouse. These genes are important in recognizing foreign molecules, playing a major role in tissue rejection and resistance to infectious agents. Dr. Shreffler was a towering figure in mouse genetics. His interest in mouse genetics let to the creation at WUSM of one of the finest mouse facilities anywhere in the country. In this facility, many inbred and congenial strains important for immunogenetic research were generated and then widely distributed for broader use.

By all accounts, Dr. Shreffler was a wonderful mentor who seeded the immunogenetics field with many of his outstanding trainees. He selflessly supported the careers of many fellow scientists, helping them to flourish and succeed. In 1980, he was elected to the Institute of Medicine and in 1982 to the National Academy of Sciences. He served as the seventy-first president of the American Association of Immunologists from 1987-1988.

Dr. Shreffler completed his tenure as head in 1984, but continued active research and teaching in the Department of Genetics until his death in 1994 at the age of 61.

A history of past Shreffler Lecturers

2024	Len Pennacchio, PhD	University of California, Berkeley
2023	Aaron Gitler, PhD	Stanford University
2022	Karl Deisseroth, MD, PhD	Stanford University
2021	David Baker, PhD	University of Washington, Seattle
2019	Hopi Hoekstra, PhD	Harvard Medical School
2018	Cecilia Lo, PhD	University of Pittsburgh
2017	Richard Palmiter, PhD	University of Washington, Seattle
2016	Nancy Jenkins, PhD	Houston Methodist Research Institute
2015	Peter Donnelly, FRS	University of Oxford
2013	James McCluskey, PhD	University of Melbourne
2011	Bruce Beutler, MD, PhD	University of Texas, Southwestern
2010	Marisa Bartolomei, PhD	University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
2009	John Todd, PhD	University of Oxford
2008	Brigid Hogan, PhD	Duke University
2007	Jean-Laurent Casanova, MD, PhD	Necker Medical School, Paris
2006	Rolf Zinkernagel, MD, PhD	University of Zürich
2005	Kathryn Anderson, PhD	Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
2004	Jeffrey Frelinger, PhD	University of Arizona, Tucson
2003	Martina Brueckner, MD	Yale University
2002	Sally Camper, PhD	University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
2001	Henry Erlich, PhD	Baylor College of Medicine
1999	John Monaco, PhD	University of Cincinnati
1998	Keith Parker, MD, PhD	University of Texas, Southwestern
1997	Terry Magnuson, PhD	University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
1996	Shirley Tilghman, PhD	Princeton University
1995	Stanley Nathenson, MD, PhD	Albert Einstein College