Judith Head, Ph.d.

Biography

Dr. Head received her PhD from the Department of Cell Biology at UT Southwestern in 1975. Her work under Dr. Rupert Billingham and Dr. Alan Beer focused on issues related to the acceptance of the fetal-placental unit as a "transplant" by the mother. After joining the faculty of that department in 1977, she engaged in numerous studies relating to the protection transplants are afforded in various sites, including the pregnant uterus, the anterior chamber of the eye, the testis, and the brain. Subsequently, an extensive series of in vitro studies on the trophoblast from murine placentas were conducted, addressing major histocompatibility antigen expression and susceptibility of these crucial placental cells to maternal lymphocytes. Dr. Head moved to the Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences in 1988 and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1999. The major studies related to pregnancy immunology, with rodent models, have been on the natural killer (NK) cells that accumulate in the uterus of both rodents and humans during early pregnancy, including characterization of the cells, mapping their differentiation, and analyzing potential factors influencing their activation in this unique environment. Numerous studies on human placenta and fetal membranes have also been carried out, most recently focused on the biology of the amnion and various aspects potentially related to the phenomenon of membrane rupture. In 2005, she retired from her research work and now focuses on the teaching of medical students. She is currently the director of The Biology of Cells and Tissues course in which the freshmen students learn histology and cell biology.   Education Undergraduate University of Texas-Austin (1970), Microbiology Graduate School UT Southwestern Medical Center (1975), Cell Biology Research Interest Biology of the human amnion Natural killer cells in the uterus Honors & Awards Outstanding Teaching Award For Small Group Teaching, MSI students (2008) Member, NIH study section Member of "Human Embryology and Development-1, 1996-2000 (1996) Career Development Award To work in another lab, learning molecular biology techniques, from the National Science Foundation (1991) President American Association for Reproductive Immunology, 1991-93 (1991) Ida M. Green Fellowship To support graduate studies, from the American Association of University Women (1973) Professional Associations/Affiliations Association for the Advancement of Science International Association of Medical Science Educators Society for Gynecologic Investigation Society of the Study of Reproduction Quick Links Administrative Offices UTSW Leadership Related Links Department of Cell Biology Institution Careers Comments & Questions Contact Us Maps Sitemap Legal Non-Discrimination Policy Patient Rights Open Records Privacy Policy Site Policies State State of Texas Texas Veterans Portal TRAIL Search UT System Social               Copyright 2017. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390 Phone 214-648-3111

Research Interest

Dr. Head received her PhD from the Department of Cell Biology at UT Southwestern in 1975. Her work under Dr. Rupert Billingham and Dr. Alan Beer focused on issues related to the acceptance of the fetal-placental unit as a "transplant" by the mother. After joining the faculty of that department in 1977, she engaged in numerous studies relating to the protection transplants are afforded in various sites, including the pregnant uterus, the anterior chamber of the eye, the testis, and the brain. Subsequently, an extensive series of in vitro studies on the trophoblast from murine placentas were conducted, addressing major histocompatibility antigen expression and susceptibility of these crucial placental cells to maternal lymphocytes. Dr. Head moved to the Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences in 1988 and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1999. The major studies related to pregnancy immunology, with rodent models, have been on the natural killer (NK) cells that accumulate in the uterus of both rodents and humans during early pregnancy, including characterization of the cells, mapping their differentiation, and analyzing potential factors influencing their activation in this unique environment. Numerous studies on human placenta and fetal membranes have also been carried out, most recently focused on the biology of the amnion and various aspects potentially related to the phenomenon of membrane rupture. In 2005, she retired from her research work and now focuses on the teaching of medical students. She is currently the director of The Biology of Cells and Tissues course in which the freshmen students learn histology and cell biology.   Education Undergraduate University of Texas-Austin (1970), Microbiology Graduate School UT Southwestern Medical Center (1975), Cell Biology Research Interest Biology of the human amnion Natural killer cells in the uterus Honors & Awards Outstanding Teaching Award For Small Group Teaching, MSI students (2008) Member, NIH study section Member of "Human Embryology and Development-1, 1996-2000 (1996) Career Development Award To work in another lab, learning molecular biology techniques, from the National Science Foundation (1991) President American Association for Reproductive Immunology, 1991-93 (1991) Ida M. Green Fellowship To support graduate studies, from the American Association of University Women (1973) Professional Associations/Affiliations Association for the Advancement of Science International Association of Medical Science Educators Society for Gynecologic Investigation Society of the Study of Reproduction Quick Links Administrative Offices UTSW Leadership Related Links Department of Cell Biology Institution Careers Comments & Questions Contact Us Maps Sitemap Legal Non-Discrimination Policy Patient Rights Open Records Privacy Policy Site Policies State State of Texas Texas Veterans Portal TRAIL Search UT System Social               Copyright 2017. The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas 75390 Phone 214-648-3111