Cis-regulatory Immunogenomics

Non-coding, disease-associated variants are likely critical drivers of disease states. We are generating epigenomic maps in human primary T cells to identify cis-elements. By intersecting these elements with disease-associated variants for various autoimmune diseases and disorders, we can determine cis-regulatory variants that may alter gene expression. We are functionally validating these variants using massively parallel reporter assays (MPRA), ATAC-seq in donor cohorts, and CRISPR editing in primary human T cells.

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Current projects in the lab related to this topic include:

• Functional Validation of Autoimmune Disease enhancer variants. We are using MPRA, ATAC-seq and CRISPR to determine allelic difference in enhancer activity using primary human T cells.
• Investigation of 3D Genome Architecture to Map Enhancer-target Genes.  We are using capture Hi-C to determine the target genes of enhancers of interests from primary human T cells.