Reappointment of E. John Wherry, PhD, as Chair of the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics
August 13, 2024
I write to share that E. John Wherry, PhD, the Barbara and Richard Schiffrin President’s Distinguished Professor, has been reappointed for a second six-year term as Chair of the Department of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics (SPATT) in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Through the extensive review process, which included a comprehensive self-study, an internal committee review, and an external review by three international leaders in the fields of pharmacology and immunology, our collective understanding was reaffirmed: Dr. Wherry is widely recognized for his leadership of a department that is regarded as one of the top research programs in the country. A highly esteemed scientist, he has set a bold vision to expand the disciplines of focus within SPATT to include immunopharmacology. The department has made substantial progress towards executing this vision with outstanding recruitment of faculty whose work encompasses different aspects of immunology, pharmacology, chemistry, and development of novel therapeutic approaches. Recruitment and investment in established programs and new technologies have advanced the field with impactful research and scholarship.
In addition to serving as Chair, Dr. Wherry is also Director of the UPenn Institute for Immunology and Immune Health (I3H) and the leader of the Colton Center for Autoimmunity at Penn, which joins centers at NYU, Yale and Tel Aviv (the Colton Consortium) in transforming the landscape of autoimmune disease research.
Dr. Wherry’s accomplishments and impact as a renowned scientist are known internationally and were recognized by election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2023. Dr. Wherry has been a pioneer in the field of T cell exhaustion, the mechanisms by which T cell responses are attenuated during chronic infections and cancer. He helped identify the role of the “checkpoint” molecule PD-1 and others that are now targeted for reinvigoration of exhausted T cells in cancer, and his work has defined the underlying molecular and epigenetic mechanisms of exhausted T cells. Dr. Wherry has over 340 publications (including recent exceptional papers in Science on JAK inhibition and in Cell on checkpoint blockade), an H-Index of 135, and his publications have been cited over 100,000 times.
Lastly, the review included important recommendations for additional ways in which the Department can continue to build on its strengths and alignment with our strategic plan – Serving a Changing World. We look forward to working with Dr. Wherry as he continues to connect and enhance the core foundations of pharmacology and immunology. His many contributions to Penn Medicine – from various leadership roles to service to collaborations – enrich our community, and we are grateful that he has agreed to continue to serve as Chair of SPATT. Please join us in congratulating Dr. Wherry on his reappointment.
Jon Epstein, MD
Interim EVP|Dean