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Transplantation, University of Wisconsin - Madison
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Yolanda T. Becker, MD
William Burlingham, PhD
Anthony M. D'Alessandro, MD
Anthony M. D'Alessandro, MD
Niloo M. Edwards, MD
Luis A. Fernandez, MD
David Foley, MD
Stuart J. Knechtle, MD
Josh Mezrich, MD
Jon S. Odorico, MD
John D. Pirsch, M.D.
Hans W. Sollinger, M.D., Ph.D.
James Southard, M.D.
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William J. Burlingham, PhD

Photo of William J. Burlingham, PhD

Professor, Division of Transplantation

H4/749 Clinical Science Center
600 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792-7375

Office: (608) 263-0119

FAX: (608) 263-7652

Lab Website

Send an email to William J. Burlingham, PhD burlingham@surgery.wisc.edu

Education

  • PhD, Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, 1979
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellowship, National Cancer Institute, Mayo Clinic and Mayo Medical School, Rochester, MN, 1980-1983

Research Interests

Dr. Burlingham has developed a highly respected transplant basic research program that focuses on acquired immunologic tolerance. His laboratory hopes to gain insight into graft acceptance by studying transplant recipients who have survived even though they have stopped taking immunosuppressive drugs.

Specifically, his research focuses on the natural exchange of soluble antigens and low numbers of white blood cells that occurs between mother and child during pregnancy and nursing. The lab's working hypothesis is that this exchange, which leads to persistence of bone marrow-derived maternal blood cells within the offspring ("microchimerism") may induce a "natural" form of tolerance. This tolerance, if harnessed, may allow for drug-free acceptance of transplanted grafts.

Link to Dr. Burlingham's Delayed Type HyperSensitivity Lab page

Active Grants

Professional Activities

Dr. Burlingham serves on the editorial board of Transplantation. He is also the chairman of the University of Wisconsin Spring Immunology Seminar Series.

Recent Publications

  • Dutta P, Molitor-Dart M, Bobadilla JL, Roenneburg DA, Yan Z, Torrealba JR, Burlingham WJ. Microchimerism is strongly correlated with tolerance to noninherited maternal antigens in mice., Blood. 2009 Oct 22;114(17):3578-87.
    [PubMed ID: 19700665]
  • Hegde S, Jankowska-Gan E, Roenneburg DA, Torrealba J, Burlingham WJ, Gumperz JE. Human NKT cells promote monocyte differentiation into suppressive myeloid antigen-presenting cells., J. Leukoc. Biol. 2009 Oct;86(4):757-68.
    [PubMed ID: 19465641]
  • van Halteren AG, Jankowska-Gan E, Joosten A, Blokland E, Pool J, Brand A, Burlingham WJ, Goulmy E. Naturally acquired tolerance and sensitization to minor histocompatibility antigens in healthy family members., Blood. 2009 Sep 10;114(11):2263-72.
    [PubMed ID: 19506299]
  • Jankowska-Gan E, Sollinger HW, Pirsch JD, Cai J, Pascual J, Haynes LD, Munoz del Rio A, Burlingham WJ. Successful reduction of immunosuppression in older renal transplant recipients who exhibit donor-specific regulation., Transplantation. 2009 Aug 27;88(4):533-41.
    [PubMed ID: 19696637]
  • Dutta P, Burlingham WJ. Tolerance to noninherited maternal antigens in mice and humans., Current opinion in organ transplantation. 2009 Aug;14(4):439-47.
    [PubMed ID: 19512930]
  • All Publications

 

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Transplantation - University of Wisconsin Department of Surgery
First published: 07/15/02 Last updated: 11/07/09 webmaster@surgery.wisc.edu
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