Thomas Forsthuber

Thomas Forsthuber is a Professor and the Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Endowed Chair in Biotechnology at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), within the Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, College of Sciences. He holds both an M.D. and a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Tübingen.

His research focuses on autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Type 1 diabetes (T1D), and autoimmune myocarditis, with a strong emphasis on understanding pathogenic immune mechanisms and developing translational therapies. His lab investigates T cell biology, particularly the role of MAP kinases and T cell memory, using transgenic and knockout mouse models.

Dr. Forsthuber's work aims at direct clinical applicability, including the development of MHC blockers, peptide mimetics, and cytokine inhibitors for autoimmune diseases, as well as vaccine targets and biomarkers. His lab actively engages in mentoring doctoral, master's, and undergraduate students.

Scientific Awards:

• Jesse H. and Mary Gibbs Jones Endowed Chair in Biotechnology

He supervises the Forsthuber Lab, which operates under the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases (STCEID), focusing on immune mechanisms in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and human autoimmune heart disease. The lab fosters interdisciplinary research with potential human therapeutic applications.