T cells play an essential role in our immune system. T helper specification is a dynamic, highly regulated process that leads to the clearance of a wide range of antigens.

The Transcriptional Regulation of Lymphocytes Unit focuses on the mechanisms behind T Cell specification. We integrate several next-generation sequencing techniques, such as RNAseq, to look at differential gene expression and ATACseq, to investigate T cell specification at both the transcriptional and epigenetic levels. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we have identified previously unrecognized factors that play a role in T helper specification.

We are currently characterizing a poorly defined nuclear factor's role in T cell development and T helper specification.