Vikki Abrahams
Vikki Martyne Abrahams | |
|---|---|
| Born | United Kingdom |
| Alma mater | University College London |
| Occupation(s) | Reproductive immunologist, professor |
| Years active | 2004–present |
| Employer | Yale School of Medicine |
| Known for | Research on innate immune receptors in placental biology and maternal-fetal immune interactions |
Vikki Martyne Abrahams is a reproductive immunologist holding dual English and American nationality, serving as a full professor in the departments of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at the Yale School of Medicine. Her scientific investigations focus on the functions of innate immune receptors, specifically toll-like receptors and NOD-like receptor families, in the context of placental biology and maternal-fetal immune interactions.
Early life and education
Abrahams completed both her Bachelor of Science degree and doctoral studies in Immunology at University College London.
Career
Following her doctoral training, Abrahams relocated to the United States to undertake postdoctoral research at Dartmouth Medical School and subsequently at Yale University. She joined Yale's faculty ranks in 2004 as an assistant professor. During this period, she co-published research identifying a defense strategy employed by cancer cells that imitates immune system responses to counteract chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel. She was awarded a $73,284 grant from the Lupus Research Alliance to study how antiphospholipid antibodies influence trophoblast functionality during pregnancy. In 2010, she secured a three-year funding award from the American Heart Association aimed at advancing studies on complications arising in pregnancy. That same year, she contributed to research clarifying the role of progesterone in preventing premature birth.
Her current research portfolio investigates the role of innate immune receptors in the interactions between mother and fetus. In 2014, she spearheaded a project examining the potential for antimalarial medications to be repurposed for treating obstetrical antiphospholipid syndrome. Two years later, Abrahams received the Lupus Research Institute’s Novel Research Grant to further explore lupus pathophysiology, including mechanisms by which Zika virus invades placental tissue.
In recognition of her significant impact on the field of reproductive immunology, Abrahams was awarded the American Society for Reproductive Immunology Award in 2019.