Last week, the National Academy of Sciences in the US announced the election of 120 members and 30 international members in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. Election to membership in the NAS is a mark of excellence in science and is considered one of the highest honours that a scientist can receive.
Professor Sir Andrew McMichael, who was director of the MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine from 2000 to 2012, was among the four academics elected from the University of Oxford this year.
Professor McMichael’s research has focused on T lymphocytes and innate immunity. Early in his career, he discovered the CD1 protein (which plays a role in immune surveillance) in a collaboration with Cesar Milstein. In the mid 1980s, Alain Townsend in his group made the crucial discovery that T lymphocytes react to short fragments of virus proteins that are bound to host proteins called HLA molecules. This finding transformed cellular immunology and is the basis of many developing cancer therapies and vaccines.
Professor McMichael and his colleagues also made important discoveries on the immune response to HIV, demonstrating that the virus could escape from immune control by the T lymphocytes by mutating these small peptides. This led to novel approaches to vaccine design that are ongoing. His team also discovered how the unusual HLA molecule, HLA-E, not only controls innate immunity but can also bind foreign peptides and stimulate T lymphocytes. Because this HLA molecule, unlike others, is not genetically variable it offers exciting possibilities for immunotherapy.
He said:
I am deeply honoured by this award, which recognises the work of all my team over many years. I have always greatly admired American science, which is world-leading, both collaborative and competitive, and globally relevant. I look forward to continuing close interactions in the years ahead.
Read the full story on the University of Oxford news pages: https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2025-05-06-four-oxford-researchers-elected-us-national-academy-sciences