Scientific Advisory Board
Dr. Stanislaw Stepkowski
Dr. Stanislaw Stepkowski was born in Warsaw, Poland, where he received his doctor of veterinary medicine (VMD) from Warsaw University. He completed his postgraduate training in experimental transplantation at the Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland, and Radium hospital, Oslo, Norway. Dr. Stepkowksi's postdoctoral training in immunology and experimental transplantation was carried out with Dr. William Duncan in Halifax, Nova, Scotia, Canada, and with Dr. Barry D. Kahan in Houston, Texas, USA. He joined the Division of Immunology and Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, at the University of Texas Medical School as an Assistant Professor and was subsequently appointed to Full Professor in 1996. Dr. Stepkowski is currently the Director of the Research Laboratory and an Associate Director of the Tissue Typing Laboratory at the Division of Immunology and Organ Transplantation, the University of Texas Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA.
Dr. Stepkowski's initial research at the University of Texas Medical School was focused on the preclinical development of rapamycin, specifically the pharmacokinetics of the agent when used alone or in combination with cyclosporine. His research defined the potent synergistic interaction between rapamycin and cyclosporine, which allowed physicians to reduce their patient's exposure to cyclosporine by 50% to 70%. Dr. Stepkowski also contributed to the preclinical development of FTY720 and, more recently, to the development of more advanced and more selective analogues of this immunomodulator. His most recent work has been in defining the role of Janus tyrosine kinases (Jaks) and stimulators and activators of transcription (Stats) in the function of T cells. This work has shown that Jak3 tyrosine and Stat5a/b transcription factors are fundamental in the survival and apoptosis of T cells. The importance of these molecules was confirmed by the development of Jak3 inhibitors. Dr. Stepkowski also applied simulated microgravity (in rotating bioreactors) to improve both the function and survival of pancreatic islets, and also is exploring new strategies to boost expansion of T regulatory cells.