Thalachallour Mohanakumar, PhD

Thalachallour Mohanakumar, PhD, the Jacqueline G. and William E. Maritz Professor of Surgery, Pathology and Immunology, is an internationally renowned organ transplantation scientist, an outstanding collaborator and an exceptional mentor. His seminal contributions have played a critical role in the success of the clinical and research transplant programs at Washington University School of Medicine.

In the laboratory, Mohanakumar has made contributions in understanding the immunological mechanisms underlying transplant rejection. He is an influential mentor whose trainees now lead transplant programs, direct histocompatibility laboratories and supervise islet isolation. His trainees also head research in academia and industry. His clinical responsibilities include serving as the Director of Histocompatibility, a critical component of solid-organ and bone marrow transplantation. He directs the Islet Core Facility, which provides human islets for clinical and research programs.

Mohanakumar’s research accomplishments have been recognized by numerous scientific organizations including the American Society of Transplantation, the American Society of Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through major awards and citations. He has been a recipient of continuous funding for more than 25 years from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Furthermore, his research endeavors have received support from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Department of Defense. He has published more than 350 manuscripts and has served on several NIH study sections.

Mohanakumar received a degree in veterinary medicine from Madras Veterinary College, a master’s degree in medical microbiology from All India Institute of Medical Sciences in India, and a PhD in microbiology and immunology from Duke University in 1974. After serving 11 years on the faculty at Duke University and the Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, he joined the Washington University faculty in 1987.