At WashU Medicine: 2010-present
The Anthony R. French, MD, PhD, Professor of Pediatrics and director of the Division of Rheumatology & Immunology, Department of Pediatrics
For Megan Cooper, MD, PhD, unraveling the mysteries of the immune system is both a scientific passion and a lifeline for children with rare, life-threatening diseases.
An internationally recognized leader in pediatric immunology, Cooper investigates the genetic causes of complex immune disorders that leave children vulnerable to severe infections, cancer and autoimmune conditions. Her discoveries are transforming how rare diseases are diagnosed and treated, often providing answers for families who’ve searched for years.
Cooper’s research has led to the identification of two previously unknown immune disorders and their underlying genetic causes, enabling earlier, more precise diagnoses and laying the foundation for therapies now in clinical trials.
Her lab also studies natural killer (NK) cells, powerful immune cells that target virus-infected and cancerous cells. Cooper was the first to identify a class of NK cells, called cytokine-induced memory-like NK cells, now being tested in clinical trials for pediatric and adult cancers. By understanding how NK cells’ metabolism controls their function, this research may enable scientists to boost their activity and durability — expanding their potential as powerful cancer therapies.
In collaboration with a postdoctoral fellow, Cooper also discovered INFLTR8 — a name created by one of her pediatric patients — an immune disorder caused by a mutation in the TLR8 gene. She now leads a national effort to identify more patients and develop targeted therapies.
Through her pioneering discoveries and commitment to mentorship, Cooper is not only advancing lifesaving cures in pediatric immunology but training the next generation of physician-scientists to carry that work forward — and push the field even further.
Published in the Autumn 2025 issue