Research

Systems and Synthetic Immunology

Our research is directed towards the fundamental molecular interactions taking place during adaptive immunity. We exploit a range of methods in systems immunology including high-throughput DNA sequencing and bioinformatics. We focus on diversity, development, and evolution of adaptive immune responses following challenge (e.g., vaccination or pathogenic infection), all while generating quantitative molecular data at high resolution. We also apply several synthetic immunology approaches such viral-based gene delivery, RNA-guided genome editing, and site-specific recombinases for the purpose of reprogramming immune cells.

Similar to how traditional methods in recombinant DNA technology and molecular immunology (e.g., cloning and protein expression, hybridoma, in vitro display screening) have transformed immunotherapeutics (e.g., vaccines and antibodies) over the past 30 years into the dominant force it is today in life sciences, biotechnology, diagnostics, and medicine; we believe that systems and synthetic immunology approach towards studying and engineering immunity will also serve as a basis for the development of next-generation immunotherapeutics, vaccines, and diagnostics.