The discovery of integrins by Harvard Medical School Professor Timothy Springer and others in the field led to a new class of treatments for autoimmune disorders. Integrins are essential adhesion molecules on the surface of cells. They help cells decide what to become, where to go, how to respond to their environments, and when to grow, divide, or die. Their dysfunction can contribute to a range of diseases. The FDA has approved drugs that reduce the activity of specific integrins to treat autoimmune disorders like multiple sclerosis, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease, and for certain blood-clotting conditions. Without federal funding and support for the research, these drugs would not have been developed, says Springer. #Harvard #HarvardMed #Research