Genomic Research in Immunogenomics

Immunogenomics explores the application of genomic technologies to better understand the immune system and immune-related disorders. The field brings together experts in genomics and genetics, immunology, computational biology, and clinical research. At HudsonAlpha, immunogenomics research efforts are exploring how the immune system drives disease and how genomics might predict which patients should benefit most from new classes of drugs.

HudsonAlpha faculty investigator Jian Han, MD, PhD, was the first to develop and patent intellectual property in immunogenomics. His analytic method allows deep sequencing of the immune repertoire to reveal the effects of disease on the immune system.

The immune repertoire can allow clinicians to detect disease long before symptoms appear or are recognized, possibly making early drug therapies more effective. Research at HudsonAlpha has shown that a cohort as small as 40 people can provide enough data to determine a predictive visual signature for most diseases. The data suggest that the immune system could serve as a diagnostic biomarker for diseases including cancer, infectious disease and autoimmune disorders.

HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology also hosts the Immunogenomics Conference. For more information go to hudsonalpha.org/immunogenomicsconference.

To learn more about genomic research in immunogenomics click here to view the 2019-2020 Research Report.