Brief Information, 10. June 2025
Ana Zenclussen receives award from the American Society for Reproductive Immunology
Prof Dr Ana Zenclussen, Head of the Department of Environmental Immunology at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ) and Professor of Paediatric Environmental Immunology at the University of Leipzig, was awarded the American Journal of Reproductive Immunology Award, the prize of the professional society. She was also elected as the new Vice President of the American Society for Reproductive Immunology (ASRI) at this year’s conference.
Ana Zenclussen
Photo: Sebastian Wiedling/UFZ
The American Journal of Reproductive Immunology Award is the highest honour bestowed by the ASRI to leading researchers for outstanding and lasting contributions to the field of reproductive immunology. Immunologist Ana Zenclussen is regarded as a pioneer in research on maternal adaptive immune responses that support pregnancy and foetal growth. She demonstrated for the first time how the mother’s regulatory T cells protect paternal antigens in the foetus and identified pregnancy hormones as potent modulators of the mother’s immune response.
The ASRI, the most important professional society in the field of reproductive immunology, also recognised the work of Zenclussen’s laboratory, which has contributed to a better understanding of the role of innate and adaptive cells in healthy pregnancies and in conditions such as miscarriage and preterm birth. Zenclussen is involved in research at the Cluster of Excellence "Leipzig Centre of Metabolism” (LeiCeM) and at Leipzig Reproductive Health Research (LE-REP). “I am delighted with this award and the recognition of my work to date. ASRI has supported my scientific career from the very beginning and welcomed me with open arms”, she says. “I greatly value the opportunity to put the issue of chemicals in the environment and their effects on pregnant women on the public agenda”.
Further information
Prof Dr Ana Zenclussen
Head of the UFZ Department of Environmental Immunology
ana.zenclussen@ufz.de
UFZ press office
Susanne Hufe
Phone: +49 341 6025-1630
presse@ufz.de
In the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), scientists conduct research into the causes and consequences of far-reaching environmental changes. Their areas of study cover water resources, ecosystems of the future, environmental technologies and biotechnologies, the effects of chemicals in the environment, modelling and social-scientific issues. The UFZ employs more than 1,100 staff at its sites in Leipzig, Halle and Magdeburg. It is funded by the Federal Government, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt.
www.ufz.deThe Helmholtz Association contributes to solving major challenges facing society, science and the economy with top scientific achievements in six research fields: Energy; Earth and Environment; Health; Key Technologies; Matter; and Aeronautics, Space and Transport. With some 39,000 employees in 19 research centres, the Helmholtz Association is Germany’s largest scientific organisation.
www.helmholtz.de