Dr. Alegre leads a research laboratory focused on T cell responses in the contexts of transplantation, autoimmunity, and cancer, with a strong foundation in mouse models and a growing emphasis on clinical translation. A primary focus of the lab is on T cell tolerance in transplantation and the ways in which infections and inflammatory events influence the induction and maintenance of that tolerance.
Dr. Alegre’s work has demonstrated that transplantation tolerance exists along a spectrum of robustness, depending on how many mechanisms of T cell tolerance are activated. Importantly, infections and inflammation can compromise these mechanisms and erode tolerance. This line of investigation has also revealed that bacterial infections not only impact transplant outcomes directly but also modulate immune responses through the microbiota. Dr. Alegre's team has shown that manipulating the microbiota can enhance graft survival, offering new therapeutic opportunities.
On the clinical side, Dr. Alegre has led studies examining the immunology of transplant recipients and patients infected with bacteria that influence transplant outcomes. In collaboration with other investigators, Dr. Alegre has extended this research to explore how the microbiota affects the responsiveness of melanoma patients to immunotherapy, bridging fundamental immunology with translational and clinical applications.
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
- Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Immunology
1998
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium
- Clinical Intensive Care Fellowship
1995
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium
PhD - Medical Sciences
1994
University of Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
PhD - Immunology
1993
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium
- Clinical Internal Medicine training
1989
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium
MD - Medicine
1985
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium
BS - Science
1981
Editorial: T regulatory cells: mechanisms and therapeutical advances.
Editorial: T regulatory cells: mechanisms and therapeutical advances. Front Immunol. 2026; 17:1947694.
PMID: 42630225
Gut microbiota and acute rejection in solid organ transplantation.
Gut microbiota and acute rejection in solid organ transplantation. Curr Opin Organ Transplant. 2026 Oct 01; 31(5):255-261.
PMID: 42522958
United for Change: Navigating the New National Institutes of Health United Funding Strategy.
United for Change: Navigating the New National Institutes of Health United Funding Strategy. Transplantation. 2026 Jul 08.
PMID: 42418239
Reversing pregnancy-induced B cell sensitization to facilitate the induction of transplant tolerance in postpartum recipients.
Reversing pregnancy-induced B cell sensitization to facilitate the induction of transplant tolerance in postpartum recipients. Am J Transplant. 2026 Jun 17.
PMID: 42309216
Mechanisms of donor-specific transfusion synergy with anti-CD154 for transplant acceptance.
Mechanisms of donor-specific transfusion synergy with anti-CD154 for transplant acceptance. J Immunol. 2026 03 17; 215(3).
PMID: 41289057
Resolving ScRNA-Seq Signatures of Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cells in Tolerance across Semi-Allogeneic Transplantation and Pregnancy.
Resolving ScRNA-Seq Signatures of Antigen-Specific CD4+ T Cells in Tolerance across Semi-Allogeneic Transplantation and Pregnancy. bioRxiv. 2025 Oct 23.
PMID: 40672265
Cell-intrinsic CD4 T cell tolerance: a new frontier in therapy?
Cell-intrinsic CD4 T cell tolerance: a new frontier in therapy? Trends Immunol. 2025 09; 46(9):624-634.
PMID: 40707326
Treg activation during allograft tolerance induction requires mitochondrion-induced TGF-ß1 in type 1 conventional dendritic cells.
Treg activation during allograft tolerance induction requires mitochondrion-induced TGF-ß1 in type 1 conventional dendritic cells. J Clin Invest. 2025 09 16; 135(18).
PMID: 40644411
Best practices of heart transplantation in mice.
Best practices of heart transplantation in mice. Am J Transplant. 2025 Sep; 25(9):1820-1829.
PMID: 40252924
Liver-targeted allergen immunotherapy rapidly and safely induces antigen-specific tolerance to treat allergic airway disease in mice.
Liver-targeted allergen immunotherapy rapidly and safely induces antigen-specific tolerance to treat allergic airway disease in mice. Sci Transl Med. 2025 04 16; 17(794):eadl0406.
PMID: 40238914
Elected Council Member
American Association of Immunologists
2023 - 2030
Named Distinguished Fellow
American Association of Immunologists
2023
Associate Editor
Journal of Clinical Investigation
2022 - 2027
Elected Fellow
American Association for the Advancement of Science
2022
International Lecturer Chaire Francqui-Collen
Vrijje Universiteit Brussels
2021
Member, CMIB study section (renamed AI in 2024)
NIH
2021 - 2025
Chair, Nominations Committee
American Association of Immunologists
2020 - 2021
Elected to AAP
Association of American Physicians (AAP)
2020
Elected Fellow
American Society of Transplantation
2020
Established Investigator Award
American Society of Transplantation
2019
Paul S. Russell Visiting Professor
Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
2018
Chair, Community of Basic Scientists
American Society of Transplantation
2016 - 2018
Section Editor
American Journal of Transplantation
2014 - 2020
Chair
Autumn Immunology Conference
2013
Member, AITC study section
NIH
2012 - 2018
Basic Science Investigator Award
American Society of Transplantation
2011
Board of Directors
Autumn Immunology Conference
2009 - 2014
Board of Directors
American Society of Transplantation
2009 - 2012
Leif B. Sorenson Faculty Research Award
The University of Chicago
2008
Section Editor
The Journal of Immunology
2007 - 2011
Member, TTT study section
NIH
2006 - 2009
Elected
American Aociety for Clinical Investigation (ASCI)
2006
Basic Science Career Development Award
American Society of Transplantation
2005
Best PhD Dissertation
The University of Chicago
1994
Intensive Care Competence Summa Cum Laude
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
1994
MD Summa Cum Laude
Universite Libre de Bruxelles
1985