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The Rudy Clarenburg Lecture Series was established in 1996 to honor the late Rudolf Clarenburg, Professor of Anatomy and Physiology. The Lecture Series brings nationally and internationally acclaimed scientists to Kansas State University to discuss their research interests with students and faculty throughout the University.

Dr. Rudolf Clarenburg joined the Department of Anatomy and Physiology in October, 1966. He received his Doctor of Sciences in 1965 from Netherlands State University, Utrecht, Holland. Dr. Clarenburg was a Research Assistant/Associate in the Department of Physiology, University of California, Berkeley from 1959 to 1966. At K-State he taught courses in physiological chemistry, intermediary metabolism and veterinary physiology. In 1983 Dr. Clarenburg received the Norden Distinguished Teacher award “for distinguished teaching in the field of veterinary medicine.”

The Dr. Rudolf Clarenburg Lectureship is made possible by the generous support received from Mrs. Margalith Clarenburg and her family. Mrs. Clarenburg passed away on April 10, 2002, following a long battle with cancer. She is deeply missed by her family and friends, but her legacy and support for the Clarenburg Lecture Series will continue for many years to come.

The current lecture series features:

Casey T. Weaver, M.D.
Wyatt and Susan Haskell Endowed Professor in Medical Excellence
School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham

Dr. Weaver will present a lecture:
November 9, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.
“The Emergence of the Th17 Pathway; Implications for Host Protection and Autoimmunity”

The seminar will be held in the Practice Management Center – Trotter Hall 

Dr. Weaver received his M.D. with honors in 1984 from the University of Florida in Gainesville and his board certification from the American Board of Pathology in Anatomic Pathology in 1993.

The goal of Dr. Weaver’s research is advancement in understanding mechanisms by which CD4 T cells develop into distinct functional subsets and how these subsets control immune responses. Dr. Weaver’s group has pioneered methods for defining and tracking CD4 T cell development and modeling of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Additional research efforts are focused on three interrelated themes: the molecular mechanisms that controls developmental decisions that specify Th17 and Treg development; delineation of mechanisms by which innate immune cells respond to pathogenic and commensal bacteria to shape Th17 versus Treg development; and a dissection of contributions of cis regulatory elements in controlling key cytokines produced by CD4 T cells – all with a view towards defining novel interventions to better prevent or treat immune-mediated diseases.

We are grateful that Dr. Weaver will present The Dr. Rudolf Clarenburg Lectureship in the College of Veterinary Medicine at Kansas State University. We hope that you will attend his lectures.