Our lab specializes in analysis of the extremely polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) immunogenetic systems. In addition to their critical role in transplantation, over 100 infectious, autoimmune and pharmacological disease phenotypes and cancers are associated with genetic variation of HLA and KIR, which also have functional interaction with one another.

Our work spans the population genetics, evolutionary history, and influence on human health of these complex genomic regions, with particular emphasis on their role in neurological disease. We are also engaged in the development of community standards and software tools for these highly variable immunogenetic data.