Faculty & Scientific Staff

Dr. Byrd studies how the microbiome, the trillions of microbes that live in and on the body, shapes the human immune system and influences responses to immune modulating therapies. Her research combines immunology, bioinformatics, and clinical data science to better understand how the microbiome influences immune function in health and disease.

After earning a bachelor’s degree in genetics from the University of Georgia, Dr. Byrd completed a doctorate in bioinformatics at the National Institutes of Health through a partnership program with Boston University. Her doctoral research focused on the skin microbiome, laying the foundation for her interest in applying computational approaches to complex questions in immunology. Following her graduate training, she joined Genentech’s cancer immunology department, where she lead a research program studying how gut microbes influence patient responses to immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies.

At BRI, Dr. Byrd’s research bridges data science and immunology. Guided by a human-first philosophy and a commitment to scientific rigor and reproducibility, she collaborates closely with clinicians and researchers to generate insights from clinical and biological data. Her work aims to support more precise ways to understand, prevent and treat immune system diseases.