Our Research
The goal of our lab is to understand genetic circuits that control human immune cell function in health and disease, employing powerful new CRISPR genome engineering technologies. We are focused on elucidating the genetic and epigenetic regulation of human immune cells and the development and application of gene editing technologies to manipulate immune cells to fight diseases including cancer, autoimmunity, and infectious disease. The lab is decoding gene programs in pro-inflammatory T cells that drive effective anti-cancer immune responses and programs in anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells (Tregs) that are critical to prevent autoimmunity. Using tools developed in the lab for CRISPR genome engineering in primary human T cells we are pursuing a comprehensive strategy to test how coding and non-coding genetic variation controls functional programs in the immune system and extending our genome engineering capabilities to reprogram the next generation of cellular therapies.
Our Partners










Our People
The Marson lab is a team of highly collaborative students, research technicians, and postdoctoral scientists with expertise across the fields of genomics, immunology, infectious diseases and genome engineering.
In the News
Media highlights of Alex and the lab’s research.
Stay Updated
Keep up-to-date with the latest research from the Marson lab.
Check out our updated lab website: https://marsonlab.org/
Goodbye to the version I made when I ... taught myself Drupal before starting the lab in 2013. This does better justice to the scientific momentum of current lab members and collaborators. @GladstoneInst @ucsf @immunox
It's almost here! The inaugural Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology symposium, Next ... Generation in Genomic Immunology is THIS FRIDAY! Still time to register for free: https://gladstone.org/events/gladstone-ucsf-institute-genomic-immunology-symposium
Congratulations @Hiattsmejoe on winning the 2020 Distinguished Achievement Award in Science by ... @GladstoneInst. Your work on #HIV and #COVID-19 @MarsonLab & @KroganLab has been truly remarkable. Personally, you have been a great mentor, collaborator, friend, and much more.
Recent Lab News
November 2020
Tori Yamamoto has been appointed a Zena Werb scholar as a T32 trainee.
June 2020
Alex is featured on 60 minutes to discuss COVID-19 antibody testing.
May 2020
Two New Research Institutes in the Bay Area | Gladstone Institutes.
August 2020
The Marson lab has moved into space at the new Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology.
May 2020
Alex is named Director of the newly launching Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology.
April 2020
Results from our preprint (now out in Nature Biotechnology) are featured in the New York Times: Coronavirus Antibody Tests: Can You Trust the Results?