Lewis Lanier

Lewis Lanier discovered and characterized multiple key NK cell receptors including NKG2D, NKG2A, and the NKp46 activating receptor, establishing the molecular framework for understanding how NK cells discriminate between healthy and transformed cells. His identification of stress-induced NKG2D ligands MICA and MICB on tumor cells revealed a critical immune surveillance mechanism exploited for therapeutic development. His work on KIR-HLA interactions defined the missing-self hypothesis at a molecular level, enabling rational design of NK cell-based immunotherapies.