Autoimmune Life Blog

As wildfire smoke becomes more common in the Pacific Northwest, BRI scientists are learning more about how it influences immune system function. We asked Dr. Megan Smithmyer about her research in this area and a new study examining the immune systems of wildland firefighters.

Together, Jessica Hamerman, PhD, and John Ray, PhD, are exploring the genetic roots of autoimmune disease using single-cell CRISPR screening.

Before medicines become widely available, they have to be rigorously tested — first in the lab, then in people through clinical trials.

With a newly awarded $4 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust, BRI and SCRI will now focus on using their novel approach to generate an engineered T cell product that can be used in a future first-in-human clinical trial.