Anderson Group

Genomics of inflammation and immunity

We study why inflammatory bowel disease develops, why its course varies between people, and why treatments work for some patients but not others. Our aim is to turn insights from human genetics and genomics into a better understanding of disease biology, new therapeutic targets and more personalised treatment.

Our research focuses on Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, the two main forms of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We combine large-scale genetic studies with detailed molecular measurements from patient samples, bringing together expertise in statistical genetics, single-cell genomics, computational biology and laboratory science. We use artificial intelligence and machine learning to integrate these complex datasets, uncover patterns underlying disease biology, and develop models to predict disease course and treatment response.

Our team and how we work

Our science depends on people with different skills, backgrounds and perspectives working closely together. We bring together laboratory scientists, geneticists, computational researchers, clinicians and research managers, with a shared ambition to improve the lives of people with IBD.

We aim to create an environment where people can ask questions freely, challenge ideas constructively and learn from one another. We value curiosity, generosity with knowledge and the care that goes into every stage of a project. We want everyone to have the support to develop their expertise, contribute their ideas and shape their own scientific direction.

Our research is a partnership with patients, clinicians and collaborators. Patients contribute samples, time and perspectives that help shape our studies and how we return findings. Their involvement keeps our scientific questions connected to the realities of living with IBD.

For more about our people, lab life, latest news and opportunities to join us, visit the Anderson lab website.

Connecting genetic risk to cellular mechanisms: IBDverse

Through IBDverse, we investigate how genetic variation influences gene activity in cells from the gut and blood, and how these cells change in IBD. Our short-read single-cell RNA sequencing studies link disease-associated variants to the genes and cell types through which they may act.

We are extending this work with long-read RNA sequencing to investigate variation in the RNA transcripts produced by these cells, adding a further layer of detail to our understanding of disease mechanisms. We share our data and results to enable further discoveries across the research community.

Explore IBDverse.

Understanding treatment response: IBD-RESPONSE

We want to understand why patients respond differently to IBD therapies and identify ways to predict which treatment will work best for each person. Designed to follow 1,325 people starting advanced therapies, IBD-RESPONSE will bring together over 5,000 samples collected before and during treatment.

We integrate genetics, single-cell genomics, serum proteomics and microbiome measurements with clinical outcomes to investigate the biological basis of treatment response and develop predictors that could guide treatment selection.

Find out about IBD-RESPONSE.

Following disease from diagnosis: Open-IBD

Open-IBD aims to follow 2,000 people undergoing investigation for suspected IBD, bringing together over 15,000 samples collected over time.

By integrating genetics, single-cell genomics, serum proteomics, microbiome measurements and clinical information, we aim to identify the processes driving disease onset and progression, and the early features associated with longer-term outcomes.

Find out about Open-IBD.

Understanding inherited variation: IBD BioResource

Working with the NIHR IBD BioResource and wider collaborators, we use large-scale genetic association studies to identify inherited variants that influence IBD susceptibility and its clinical manifestations.

Linking genetic data to detailed clinical information allows us to investigate why disease location, severity and outcomes differ between patients. These studies provide a foundation for identifying disease mechanisms and understanding the biological differences that matter for patient care.

Find out about the IBD BioResource.

Somatic mutations in IBD

Alongside inherited variation, we study mutations acquired by cells during life, both in the intestinal lining and in immune cells. We investigate how these mutations influence cell behaviour, how inflammation shapes the expansion of cells carrying particular mutations, and how these processes may contribute to IBD.

By studying somatic mutations across these cellular compartments, we aim to uncover disease mechanisms that inherited genetic variation alone cannot reveal.

From bench to bedside

We work to translate genomic discoveries into tangible benefits for patients. Using whole-genome and whole-exome sequencing, we identify people whose IBD is caused by changes in a single gene, including those whose disease first developed in adulthood. By returning these findings through clinical services, we help patients receive a more precise diagnosis and inform decisions about their care.

Our research can also reveal genetic findings relevant to a participant’s health beyond IBD. We have worked with patients to understand their views on receiving these “incidental” findings, and subsequently with the NIHR IBD BioResource and NHS partners to establish a pathway for returning clinically significant results to participants who choose to receive them.

This work has already had profound consequences. Our analysis identified a genetic variant associated with Lynch syndrome in IBD BioResource participant Victoria Thurston. Following NHS confirmation and specialist advice, Victoria chose to undergo a risk-reducing hysterectomy. Investigations before surgery revealed an early-stage womb cancer, which was successfully treated. Returning this finding enabled care that made a substantial difference to her health and wellbeing, and provided information that could also benefit her family.

Watch Victoria tell her story on ITV News.

Join us

We welcome enquiries from prospective students, postdoctoral researchers and collaborators who share our interests. If you would like to contribute to our research, please get in touch to tell us about your interests and experience.

Visit our lab website to learn more.