Duke Flags Lowered: Thomas Tedder, Inaugural Chair of Immunology, Dies.

It is with great sadness that we write to inform you that Thomas F. Tedder, PhD, passed away on March 18 alongside his family. Dr. Tedder was the Alter Geller Distinguished Professor for Research in Immunology in the School of Medicine.

Dr. Tedder was a nationally and internationally recognized basic research investigator who focused on B lymphocyte cell surface molecules and their regulation of B cell function in oncology and autoimmunity. 

He joined Duke in 1992, when he was recruited to serve as the inaugural chair of the Department of Immunology (now the Department of Integrative Immunobiology). His faculty recruitment efforts expanded the department’s research coverage to address a broad range of topics in contemporary immunology. He served in that capacity until 2010. In total, Dr. Tedder served Duke for 30 years. 

Dr. Tedder was a dedicated educator and scientist, as well as a cherished member of the Duke community. Dr. Tedder’s tireless research has led to many benefits for medicine, most notably through the development of inebilizumab (Uplizna), which provides a much-needed treatment to hundreds of thousands of families across the globe battling the autoimmune disease neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD).

Dr. Tedder’s family plans to have a memorial service for him in the coming weeks in Durham. To receive information about arrangements, please email Todd Leovic at todd.leovic@duke.edu. Our heartfelt thoughts go out to Dr. Tedder’s family, friends, and colleagues.