Source: Interfolio F180
Wolfram Ruf, MD
Research Focus
The laboratory's interests are studies in vascular biology and immunology employing cell, molecular biology and transgenic animal technology. The TF-initiated coagulation pathway has remained a major focus of ongoing research because of its critical role in cell signaling that drives systemic inflammation, metastasis and angiogenesis. Building on a comprehensive elucidation of the structural biology of TF and its protease ligand VIIa, we developed biochemical models of how cell signaling and initiation of coagulation are closely interrelated. We have defined relevant TF-driven signaling pathways through protease activated receptors (PARs) and have identified the underlying signaling mechanism of the anti-apoptotic and vascular protective effects of the anticoagulant activated protein C. The laboratory is focused on the basic cell biology of TF and how TF regulates the signaling of integrins and PARs. We are utilizing a number of newly generated animal models with altered signaling properties in the TF coagulation pathway. These models are under investigation to define the signaling specificity of the TF coagulation pathway in angiogenesis, oncogenic transformation and inflammation.
Education
M.D., Justus-Liebig University, Giessen, Germany, 1987Professional Experience
1984-1986 Doctoral Fellowship, Clinical Research Unit for Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis of the Max-Planck Gesellschaft.1987-1988 Research Associate, Clinical Research Unit for Blood Coagulation and Thrombosis of the Max-Planck Gesellschaft.
1988-1990 Exchange Visitor, Dept. of Immunology, Scripps Clinic, La Jolla, CA.
1990-1992 Senior Research Associate, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.
1992-1996 Assistant Professor, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.
1996-2005 Associate Professor (tenured 2001), The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.
2005-present Professor, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA.
2007-present Margaret Thatcher Professor of Biological Chemistry, Thrombosis Research Institute, London, U.K. (external affiliation)
Awards & Professional Activities
1988 Otto-Hahn medal of the Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Max-Planck-Gesellschaft, Germany1992 Experimental Pathologist in Training Award of the American Association of Pathologists
1996 Established Investigator Award of the American Heart Association
1999 Membership (elected) American Society for Clinical Investigation
2005 Investigator Recognition Award of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis
2005 Special Recognition Award in Thrombosis by the ATVB Council of the American Heart Association
2007 Sol Sherry Distinguished Lecturer in Thrombosis, ATVB Council of the American Heart Association
2012 Mosesson Lecture on Thrombosis, Blood Center Wisconsin
2013 Alexander von Humboldt Professorship, Germany
2015 Distinguished Career Award of the International Society on Thrombosis and Hemostasis
2016 Simon Karpatkin Memorial Lecture, ICTHIC International Conference on Thrombosis and Hemostasis Issues in Cancer
2017 Oscar D. Ratnoff Memorial Lecture, ISTH Congress Berlin
Selected Publications
Riewald, Matthias; Ruf, Wolfram Mechanistic coupling of protease signaling and initiation of coagulation by tissue factor. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2001, 98, 7742-7747.
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Riewald, Matthias; Petrovan, R. J.; Donner, A.; Mueller, B. M.; Ruf, Wolfram Activation of endothelial cell protease activated receptor 1 by the protein c pathway. Science 2002, 296, 1880-1882.
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Belting, M.; Dorrell, Michael I.; Sandgren, S.; Aguilar, E.; Ahamed, J.; Dorfleutner, A.; Carmeliet, P.; Mueller, B. M.; Friedlander, Martin; Ruf, Wolfram Regulation of angiogenesis by tissue factor cytoplasmic domain signaling. Nature Medicine 2004, 10, 502-509.
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Ahamed, J.; Versteeg, H. H.; Kerver, M.; Chen, V. M.; Mueller, B. M.; Hogg, P. J.; Ruf, Wolfram Disulfide isomerization switches tissue factor from coagulation to cell signaling. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 2006, 103, 13932-13937.
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Versteeg, H. H.; Schaffner, F.; Kerver, M.; Petersen, H. H.; Ahamed, J.; Felding-Habermann, Brunhilde; Takada, Y.; Mueller, B. M.; Ruf, Wolfram Inhibition of tissue factor signaling suppresses tumor growth. Blood 2008, 111, 190-199.
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Schaffner, F.; Versteeg, H. H.; Schillert, A.; Yokota, N.; Petersen, L. C.; Mueller, B. M.; Ruf, Wolfram Cooperation of tissue factor cytoplasmic domain and par2 signaling in breast cancer development. Blood 2010, 116, 6106-6113.
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