Henry Wortis

Henry Wortis is a Professor of Immunology at Tufts University School of Medicine, affiliated with the Immunology Program and Tufts PREP. He holds a Doctor of Medicine from Albert Einstein College of Medicine (1960) and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin Colleges (1956). His research has focused on B cell development, B-1 cells, age-associated immune decline, and vaccine design, with notable work on genetic approaches to study susceptibility to infections in aging populations. Despite no longer maintaining an active research lab, he remains engaged in education and mentoring through graduate programs.

His research highlights include pioneering studies on Bruton’s tyrosine kinase mutations, CD22 signaling, and the role of B-1 cells in natural immunity. He has received two Tufts pilot awards for vaccine development and islerosion of immune function with aging. His career includes roles as Chair of Pathology (2002–2013) and Professor in the Department of Pathology at Tufts. Wortis has taught courses such as Advanced Cellular Immunology and Ethics in Scientific Research, reflecting his commitment to training the next generation of scientists.

Wortis has over 111 publications, including seminal work on B cell tolerance, TLR7 in lupus, and the cellular basis of immune resistance. He has served on NIH committees for training and diversity initiatives. His future focus includes resuming research on atherosclerosis vaccines and immune aging mechanisms.