Jennie Yao

Program: Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Current advisor: Malachi Griffith, PhD

Undergraduate university: University of Toronto, 2021

Enrollment year: 2023

Research summary
I develop tools and models that improve neoantigen prioritization for cancer vaccines.

My research focuses on computational immunogenomics and the use of machine learning to improve neoantigen prioritization for personalized cancer vaccine development. I am developing multi-input predictive models that integrate genomic, transcriptomic, and immunological data to classify candidate neoantigens based on their likelihood of eliciting immune responses, using data from completed and ongoing clinical trials. By embedding these models into the pVACtools ecosystem, I aim to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of individualized vaccine design.

Graduate publications