Autoimmune Life Blog

In the late 1990s, Bill Kwok, PhD, pioneered MHC class II tetramers, a game-changing tool in immunology research. Tetramers have fueled countless research breakthroughs because they enable scientists to find extremely rare cells and extract them to study in precise detail.

Eddie James, PhD, earned a new grant to explore early cell changes that lead to T1D, using a new tool pioneered at BRI.

Eddie Irvine, PhD, recently joined BRI as a Principal Investigator in the Center for Systems Immunology. He’ll use his unique background in protein engineering and AI to better understand the immune system and find new ways to treat disease. 

As wildfire smoke becomes more common in the Pacific Northwest, BRI scientists are learning more about how it influences immune system function. We asked Dr. Megan Smithmyer about her research in this area and a new study examining the immune systems of wildland firefighters.

Sarah Kobernat, PhD, is working to find out.

Learn how our biorepositories power life-changing breakthroughs.

Benaroya Research Institute honors and remembers (“Becky”) Benaroya, a beloved member of our community whose generosity, compassion and commitment to improving lives leaves a remarkable impact.

Read recent highlights and learn what’s on the horizon in 2026 from BRI President Jane Buckner, MD.

Learn how research led by Jane Buckner, MD, is bringing regulatory T cell-based therapies closer to clinical trials.

Allyson Byrd, PhD, is an expert in the gut microbiome, the study of the tiny organisms that live inside our digestive system. James Lord, MD, PhD, is a gastroenterologist who has studied inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) like Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis for more than 20 years.