Sanger and PacBio Launch Long-Read Effort to Decode Immune Gene Activity
A new collaboration between the Wellcome Sanger Institute and Pacific Biosciences (PacBio) will apply long-read, single-cell RNA sequencing to nearly 1,500 blood and gut samples in an effort to understand how gene activity shapes the human immune system.
The initiative is among the first to apply this technology at scale and aims to identify RNA isoforms—alternate versions of gene transcripts—linked to conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and individual treatment responses.
Samples will be drawn from three major studies: IBDverse and IBD-Response, which focus on the genetic and transcriptomic drivers of IBD development and drug response, and Project JAGUAR, a collaborative effort across seven Latin American countries studying how genetic ancestry influences immune responses. Initial samples from Peru and Mexico will be analyzed to explore isoform diversity in underrepresented populations.
While previous large-scale efforts have relied on short-read sequencing, the new project will use PacBio’s HiFi long-read technology to provide more complete views of RNA transcript diversity across cell types and individuals. This approach enables detailed profiling of RNA splicing and isoform usage—factors believed to underlie differences in disease progression and therapeutic outcomes. The study is expected to provide high-resolution maps of immune gene activity that could help refine treatment strategies for IBD and other immune-related conditions.
The datasets and technical methods from the project will be made openly available to the global research community. Alongside biological insights, the team aims to develop computational tools to support the broader adoption of long-read single-cell sequencing in population-scale studies. According to researchers involved, this work represents a step toward more globally inclusive genomics and may help explain why existing treatments work for some individuals but not others.
Topics: Biotech
