Differentiation of effector and tissue regulatory T cells . Regulatory T cells (Tregs) populate almost every organ of the body and play a central role in preventing inflammation and maintaining health. To exercise these functions, Tregs undergo a developmental program, the details of which are poorly known. This project will utilize newly developed biological tools and state-of-the-art technology to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern Treg development and function. The project will gene ....Differentiation of effector and tissue regulatory T cells . Regulatory T cells (Tregs) populate almost every organ of the body and play a central role in preventing inflammation and maintaining health. To exercise these functions, Tregs undergo a developmental program, the details of which are poorly known. This project will utilize newly developed biological tools and state-of-the-art technology to uncover the molecular mechanisms that govern Treg development and function. The project will generate basic scientific knowledge and new intellectual property that will afford new opportunities for research and development. The outcomes of this project will help to devise strategies to treat diseases such as autoimmunity, cancer and metabolic syndrome, and will thus benefit veterinary and human health.Read moreRead less
The T cell genome in 3D: linking chromatin structure to cellular function. Adaptive immune cell activation results in the acquisition and long term maintenance of specific cellular function that enables efficient immune control of infections. Using advanced cellular and genomic approaches, combined with high-resolution microscopy and cutting edge computational biology, this proposal aims to address major gaps in our knowledge about how alterations in genomic 3D architecture and targeted biochemi ....The T cell genome in 3D: linking chromatin structure to cellular function. Adaptive immune cell activation results in the acquisition and long term maintenance of specific cellular function that enables efficient immune control of infections. Using advanced cellular and genomic approaches, combined with high-resolution microscopy and cutting edge computational biology, this proposal aims to address major gaps in our knowledge about how alterations in genomic 3D architecture and targeted biochemical modifications impact cell specific gene nuclear positioning and how this regulates changes in gene expression associated with immune cell activation. An outcome will be identification of novel molecular mechanisms that will have broad applicability across cellular biology, and provide novel targets for drug development.Read moreRead less
Predicting adaptation and range expansion under climate change. This project investigates the repeatability and thereby the predictability of adaptation to climate change by leveraging 1000 genomes sampled over 150 years and multiple climatic gradients in the rapidly adapting, globally invasive, and highly allergenic ragweed. We expect to deepen our understanding of the genetic basis of adaptation and decipher the circumstances under which adaptive genetic change is repeatable, by integrating a ....Predicting adaptation and range expansion under climate change. This project investigates the repeatability and thereby the predictability of adaptation to climate change by leveraging 1000 genomes sampled over 150 years and multiple climatic gradients in the rapidly adapting, globally invasive, and highly allergenic ragweed. We expect to deepen our understanding of the genetic basis of adaptation and decipher the circumstances under which adaptive genetic change is repeatable, by integrating a novel evolutionary model with genomic data. We will develop the capacity to predict species’ distributions and trait evolution under climate change using a powerful empirical dataset. This will provide us with the capacity to anticipate and manage the effects of climate change on noxious and threatened species.Read moreRead less