Skip to Main Content

Nancy Ruddle, PhD

Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology
DownloadHi-Res Photo

Contact Info

Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases

PO Box 208034, 60 College Street

New Haven, CT 06520-8034

United States

About

Titles

Professor Emeritus of Epidemiology

Biography

Nancy Ruddle is known for her discovery and analysis of lymphotoxin, a protein produced by T cells that plays a role in the protective immune system and destroys tumor cells. She and researchers in her laboratory have engaged in research on the lymphotoxin/tumor necrosis factor family, their regulation and roles in lymphoid organ development, regulation of high endothelial venues and lymphatic vessels, and pathogenesis of viral and autoimmune disease. The more than 170 scientific articles Ruddle has authored or co-authored have explored the immunology of such diseases as leukemia, experimental allergic encephalomyelitis and Leishmania amazonensis infection, among others. She is particularly well known for her analysis of tertiary lymphoid organs, accumulations of lymphoid cells in autoimmunity, chronic infection, and cancer .

Appointments

Other Departments & Organizations

Education & Training

Postdoctoral Fellow
Yale University (1974)
PhD
Yale University (1968)
BA
Mount Holyoke College, Zoology (1962)

Research

Overview

Professor Ruddle's research concentrates on cell trafficking and
inflammation, particularly with regard to the lymphotoxin/tumor
necrosis factor (LT/TNF) family. Her group studies these and other
cytokines in autoimmune and infectious diseases. They study autoimmune
diseases, the inflammatory stage of Type 1 diabetes mellitus, and
experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a model for multiple
sclerosis. Cytokines, autoantigens, or infectious organisms can give
rise to chronic cellular accumulations called "ectopic" or "tertiary
lymphoid organs," through a process termed lymphoid organ neogenesis.
Three “tertiary lymphoid organs” can contribute to diseases and even
serve as a site of prion accumulations. Dr. Ruddle’s group identified a
role for LT in normal lymphoid organ development. Their studies
demonstrate that the roles of the cytokines in lymphoid organ
development and inflammation are similar, in that in both contexts they
induce chemokines and vascular adhesion molecules. The functions of
lymph nodes and tertiary lymphoid organs may be comparable with regard
to antigen presentation, serving both helpful and harmful roles in
defense and autoimmunity.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)

Lymphoid Tissue

Research at a Glance

Yale Co-Authors

Frequent collaborators of Nancy Ruddle's published research.

Publications

2024

2023

2020

2019

Get In Touch

Contacts

Academic Office Number
Office Fax Number
Mailing Address

Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases

PO Box 208034, 60 College Street

New Haven, CT 06520-8034

United States

Locations

  • 60 College Street

    Academic Office

    Rm 712

    New Haven, CT 06510