Virginia M. Shapiro

Virginia M. Shapiro, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Immunology at Mayo Clinic and a key leader in the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where she serves as Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs. She leads the David F. and Margaret T. Grohne Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapeutics Research Program within the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. Her research is centered on the molecular mechanisms governing T cell development, activation, and immune regulation, with significant implications for autoimmune diseases and cancer immunotherapy.

Dr. Shapiro’s research focuses on transcriptional and epigenetic regulation in lymphocyte development, particularly how chromatin-modifying enzymes and transcriptional repressors control T cell maturation. She also investigates the role of sialic acid modifications in immune signaling through Siglec receptors and studies early hematopoietic processes. Her lab explores how dysregulation in these pathways contributes to diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, and cancer. Recent studies highlight her work on B cell immunity, mitochondrial fitness, and immune modulation in tumor environments.

Her research is supported by multiple NIH grants, including ongoing projects on autoimmune diabetes, T cell anergy, and B cell development. Dr. Shapiro leads a major NIH-funded Training Program in Immunology, emphasizing her role in mentoring the next generation of scientists. Her publication record includes high-impact articles in journals such as Nature Communications, Immunity, Science, and eLife, demonstrating sustained contributions to immunology and molecular medicine.

Dr. Shapiro has received notable honors, including Teacher of the Year (2012) and the Dean’s Recognition Award (2019) from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School. She has held national leadership roles, such as Standing Member of the NIH Molecular and Cellular Hematology Study Section and Chair of the American Association of Immunologists’ Nominating Committee and Committee on the Status of Women.

She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, and holds an AB in Biochemistry, magna cum laude, from Harvard University. She is actively involved in academic service, grant review, and scientific conferences, and her work continues to advance understanding of immune system development and regulation.