Genetic variation in the human genome controls a compendium of cellular and physiological components that make up human biology. The Ray Lab is interested in better understanding how genetic variation tunes our immune system and how this can put individuals at risk for autoimmune diseases, which is a vital step in developing more effective therapeutics with fewer side effects.
Because most genetic risk for autoimmune diseases occurs in non-coding regions of the genome, the Ray lab studies how non-coding genetic variants modulate cis-regulatory regions and alter immune cell activities that lead to autoimmune disease susceptibility. We prioritize likely disease-causal variants and cis-regulatory regions, and, in human and mouse systems, identify variant target genes and pathways and define their functional effects on immune cells.
These studies will inform efforts for personalized therapies and disease prevention.
Lab Members
Maxwell Dippel
Ingrid Harten, PhD
Alex Ho, PhD
Meghan McQuade
Research Projects
Prioritizing autoimmune disease-causal variants in immune cells
Mapping cis-regulatory regions that control immune cell function genome-wide
Defining variants that act collectively to promote disease
Featured Publications
Systematic identification of genomic elements that regulate FCGR2A expression and harbor variants linked with autoimmune disease.
Hum Mol Genet
Prioritization of autoimmune disease-associated genetic variants that perturb regulatory element activity in T cells.
Nat Genet
Genome-wide enhancer maps link risk variants to disease genes.
Nature
Global discovery of lupus genetic risk variant allelic enhancer activity.
Nat Commun
Lupus Nephritis: New Approach Could Pave the Way for Innovative Treatments
When Jessica Hamerman, PhD, was perusing research papers in 2021, one discovery stopped her in her tracks — and ultimately put her on a whole new research path.
A Heartfelt Thank You: One Scientist Shares How Donors Make an Impact at BRI
This giving season, on behalf of our team, I extend a heartfelt thank you to all BRI donors and share some of the meaningful ways your philanthropy supports our work.
Finding Genetic Changes That Cause Autoimmunity
To better treat — and even prevent — autoimmune diseases, we need to know exactly what causes them. Scientists have long known that genetics play a role in these diseases but are still working to understand how and why.
Benaroya Research Institute Immunologist John Ray Receives 2023 NIH Director’s New Innovator Award
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Science in Seattle: Lupus Nephritis: New Approach Could Pave the Way for Innovative Treatments
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