Research in the Shalek Lab is directed towards the creation and implementation of new technologies to understand how cells collectively perform systems-level functions in healthy and diseased states. We employ a comprehensive, five-step approach , developing innovative methodologies and applying them across multiple systems to empower more mechanistic inquiry and a deeper understanding of the rules that govern ensemble cellular behaviors.
Our Research
Featured Publications
We analyze multiple datasets spanning organ systems in human and non-human primate to identify putative target cells of SARS-CoV-2. We establish the entry receptor, ACE2, to be an interferon-stimulated gene in human, but not murine, airway cells.
We profile the longitudinal immune dynamics of untreated HIV-1 infection in multiple individuals from pre-infection through chronic infection. We develop a framework to characterize temporally-correlated gene programs in different cell types.
We develop Seq-Well, a portable and inexpensive platform for high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing. We report robust transcriptional profiling on cell lines and primary human cells - and envision its use in dissecting complex clinical samples.
News
Alex Featured in Cell Systems
Alex was recently features in Cell Systems' "Voices" piece on the future of understanding cell behavior and cellular communities. Read his opinion, and that of other leading voices in the field, here.
Pre-print on Severity-associated Epithelial Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Now on bioRxiv
Our pre-print detailing how different nasal epithelial and immune populations respond to SARS-CoV-2 infection across the spectrum of COVID-19 severity is now out on bioRxiv. This work was led by Carly Ziegler, Vincent Miao, Andrew Navia, and Josh Bromley in the Shalek lab. Read more here.
Insights into the Immune Response to Stroke in Science Immunology
Our findings detailing the longitudinal response of myeloid cells to stroke are now out in Science Immunology. Read more about the study, co-led by post-doc Britt Goods, here.