Vera Byers

Vera Byers
Alma materUniversity of California Los Angeles
Scientific career
FieldsImmunology
InstitutionsUniversity of California San Francisco
ThesisThe specific regulatory effect of antigen on induction and paralysis of the immune response studied in vitro (1969)

Vera Steinberger Byers is an American immunologist[1] who currently practices as a consultant in Incline Village, Nevada and was formerly a professor at the University of California San Francisco, before changing affiliations to University of Nottingham, where she helped conduct research on tumor immunology, later moving on to immunodermatology. While at UCSF, she helped develop a monoclonal antibody for use as an anticancer treatment, specifically against osteogenic sarcoma,[2] though it was originally used against graft-versus-host disease.[3]: 865 [4]

While at the University of Nottingham, she published some papers on the regulation of the immune response to urushiol in poison ivy/poison oak, also using a monoclonal antibody.[5][6] Her work as a medical toxicologist pertaining to trichloroethylene[7] features in the book A Civil Action.[3]: 866 

According to her testimony in Cedillo v. Secretary of Health and Human Services, she spent three years working at Immunex, where she worked on the anti-arthritis drug Enbrel.[3]: 867  However, the special master in these proceedings wrote, "...there was no record at the FDA of Dr. Byers playing in any role in the Enbrel licensing application," to which Byers responded that "the information did not make a difference."[1] The special master also wrote, "[Byers'] insistence that it was acceptable to use adult norms to measure the immune function of infants and young children was, frankly, incredible."[1] Her testimony in this trial pertained to the alleged mechanism by which the measles virus from the MMR vaccine, in combination with thimerosal, caused autistic girl Michelle Cedillo to experience a "dysregulated immune system."[3]: 872  It is scientific consensus that there is no link between any vaccine or vaccine ingredient and autism[8][9][10] and that the thiomersal used as a preservative in some vaccines is not harmful.[11][12]

Byers formerly served on the editorial board of the journal Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy, and has published some research in this journal.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Offit, Paul (2011). Deadly Choices. Basic Books. p. 100. ISBN 9780465023561.
  2. ^ Embleton, M. J.; Gunn, B.; Byers, V. S.; Baldwin, R. W. (1981). "Antitumour reactions of monoclonal antibody against a human osteogenic-sarcoma cell line". British Journal of Cancer. 43 (5): 582–587. doi:10.1038/bjc.1981.87. PMC 2010673. PMID 6941806.
  3. ^ a b c d "Day 4 of the autism omnibus trial" (PDF). Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  4. ^ Byers, V. S.; Henslee, P. J.; Kernan, N. A.; Blazar, B. R.; Gingrich, R.; Phillips, G. L.; Lemaistre, C. F.; Gilliland, G.; Antin, J. H.; Martin, P. (1990). "Use of an anti-pan T-lymphocyte ricin a chain immunotoxin in steroid-resistant acute graft-versus-host disease". Blood. 75 (7): 1426–1432. doi:10.1182/blood.V75.7.1426.1426. PMID 2180494.
  5. ^ Baldwin, R. W.; Clegg, J. A.; Curran, A. C.; Austin, E. B.; Khan, T.; Ma, Y.; Gunn, B.; Hudecz, F.; Byers, V. S.; Lepoittevin, J. P.; Price, M. R. (1999). "Regulation of the contact sensitivity response to urushiol with anti-urushiol monoclonal antibody ALG 991". Archives of Dermatological Research. 291 (12): 652–658. doi:10.1007/s004030050470. PMID 10651166. S2CID 25186844.
  6. ^ Kolata, Gina (November 24, 1987). "Futuristic Treatments For the Hair and Skin". New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2014.
  7. ^ a b Byers, V. S.; Levin, A. S.; Ozonoff, D. M.; Baldwin, R. W. (1988). "Association between clinical symptoms and lymphocyte abnormalities in a population with chronic domestic exposure to industrial solvent-contaminated domestic water supply and a high incidence of leukaemia". Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy. 27 (1): 77–81. doi:10.1007/BF00205762. PMC 11038768. PMID 3260823. S2CID 7121793.
  8. ^ "The Evidence on Vaccines and Autism | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health". Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. March 19, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  9. ^ "Vaccines and Autism | Children's Hospital of Philadelphia". Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  10. ^ "Autism | immunizecanada". Immunize Canada. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  11. ^ "Vaccine Ingredients: Thimerosal". Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Vaccine Education Center. June 1, 2020. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
  12. ^ "Fact Checked: Extensive Research Shows Thimerosal is Safe". American Academy of Pediatrics. July 15, 2025. Retrieved January 8, 2026.
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