| History of Reproductive Immunology |
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Reproductive immunology emerged as a scientific field early in the days of transplantation immunology led by eminent scientists from the field of translation who also contributed significantly to the development of reproductive immunology, namely, Sir Peter Medawar, Rupert Billingham and Guy Voisin.
It was Medawar (1953) who for the first time reflected upon the similarities between the fetus and the graft. He proposed that despite genetic differences, mothers normally do not reject their semi-allogenic embryos which may be attributed to the diminished immune responses in the pregnant uterus (immune-privileged organ) and allografts invariably survive longer than in other sites. Consequently for his significant research Medawar received Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1960. |
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