We analyse bulk and single cell RNA-seq data in order to elucidate the biology of an important class of immune cells: tissue resident memory T cells. The hope is that, if we can understand the fundamental biology of these cells, we might be able to harness them to cure diseases like cancer. So far we have characterised important ways in which these cells differ between organs (e.g. skin, liver, gut, and lung), and we have discovered key genes involved in their function (e.g. Runx3).
Continuing.
Team members: Luke Gandolfo, Terry Speed, together with members of the Mackay Lab at the Peter Doherty Institute.