Immunity By Design

About Immunity By Design

From Cells to Systems Through Human and Machine Intelligence. Modern immunology stands at a transformative turning point. Emerging AI and experimental technologies are rapidly reshaping how we do and understand immunology. But this acceleration comes at a cost. A widening gap seems to emerge: those who adapt alongside these changes prove more effective at translating ideas into impact, while even the most brilliant concepts can be consumed by complexity and strategy. And in the middle, a central challenge remains: how do we move beyond pattern recognition to genuine mechanistic understanding? How do we use AI not as a black box for prediction, but as a tool to decode underlying biological principles? 'Immunity by Design: From Cells to Systems Through Human and Machine Intelligence', explores these questions with the pioneers in science an innovation as well as representatives of policymakers. Hosted by Professor Hashem Koohy -- a leading scientist with a research focus on systems immunology the podcast brings together researchers, technology developers, entrepreneurs, and investors reimagining immune science for the digital age. Each episode explores how data, AI, and systems immunology are reshaping discovery: how researchers combine spatial and single-cell technologies, immune-repertoire profiling, and in-silico innovations to reveal disease mechanisms and inform therapeutic development; how experimental design can enable interpretable, mechanism driven AI; and how we trace the path from data to insight, from model to medicine, and from idea to impact.

Publisher

Oxford University

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

25 Mar 2026

Latest episode

14 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

7 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   14 Sept 2026

   What Makes a Scientific Job Application to Stand Out?

   What makes a scientific job application stand out? Anne Goriely and Elisa Rosati Scalchi reveal what selectors notice, common mistakes, how hiring decisions are made, and how to use AI without losing your voice. What makes one scientific job application stand out from hundreds of others, and what makes a reviewer stop reading? In this episode of Immunity by Design, Professor Anne Goriely and Dr Elisa Rosati Scalchi join Hashem Koohy to explore what really happens on the other side of the scientific hiring process, drawing on extensive experience of recruiting and selecting candidates across academia and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.The conversation explores what makes an application memorable, why being the right fit can matter more than appearing to be the strongest candidate on paper, and how reviewers assess CVs, cover letters and references when faced with large numbers of applications. The panel also discusses common mistakes, the importance of tailoring an application to a specific role, and why originality, clarity, concision and proactivity can make a candidate stand out. They also look behind the scenes at shortlisting and rejection. At Oxford, for example, hundreds of applications may compete for only a handful of funded DPhil places, while an experienced reviewer may spend around ten minutes on the initial assessment of an application. The discussion highlights an important distinction: the candidate who looks strongest on paper is not necessarily the candidate who is the best fit for a particular position or research group. Finally, the panel considers how generative AI is changing scientific job applications. AI can be valuable for improving language, grammar and presentation, but relying on it to generate an application can remove precisely the originality and personality that selectors are looking for. The message is simple: use AI to support your thinking and polish your application, not to replace your own voice. Whether you are applying for a PhD, postdoctoral position or a role in industry, this episode offers a rare view of scientific recruitment from the hiring side, and practical lessons for making your next application more focused, distinctive and convincing.

2. 

   10 Aug 2026

   From Talent to Opportunity: Building a More Equitable Future for Science and AI | Abhilash Mishra | Equitech Futures

   What determines success in science and technology today? Dr Abhilash Mishra discusses how opportunity, mentorship, AI, and entrepreneurship shape scientific and technology careers. Talent is everywhere, but opportunity isn’t. In this episode of Immunity by Design, Prof. Hashem Koohy speaks with Dr Abhilash Mishra, physicist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Equitech Futures, about creating a more equitable future for science. They explore why talented people are overlooked, the limitations of prestigious credentials, the power of mentorship, entrepreneurship, and resilience, and how AI can either widen inequalities or democratise opportunity. A thought-provoking conversation for students, researchers, educators, entrepreneurs, and anyone passionate about the future of science, innovation, and inclusive access to opportunity. Topics discussed include: • AI in science • Mentorship • Scientific careers • Entrepreneurship • Equity in STEM • Talent and opportunity • Leadership • Innovation • Higher education • Career development Whether you are a student and/or early-career research, or a more well established scientist or academics, or and entrepreneur, or interested in education and mentoring or an AI and technology enthusiastic, then this is for you. If you enjoyed this episode, join the ImmunoIntelligence community for more webinars, podcasts, expert interviews, and educational insights at the intersection of immunology, AI, and biomedical innovation. Please also consider subscribing to our YouTube channel, where you’ll find our full library of videos and future releases. About Immunity by Design Immunity by Design is a podcast exploring the intersection of immunology, artificial intelligence, data science, biotechnology, and medicine. Each episode features leading scientists and innovators discussing the discoveries, technologies, and ideas that are shaping the future of human health. Subscribe for future conversations with world-leading researchers working at the frontiers of immunology and AI.

3. 

   1 Jul 2026

   AI Reveals Hidden Immune Memory in Eczema & Psoriasis | Lloyd Steele | Sanger Institute

   Can AI uncover what a century of histopathology has missed? Dr Lloyd Steele explains how spatial transcriptomics reveals hidden immune memory niches driving eczema and psoriasis. Artificial intelligence and spatial genomics are transforming how we study human disease, but what happens when they reveal biology that has remained invisible for over a century of conventional histopathology? In this episode of Immunity by Design, I speak with Dr Lloyd Steele (Wellcome Sanger Institute & University of Cambridge), lead author of a groundbreaking study that combines single-cell genomics, high-plex spatial transcriptomics, AI-driven spatial analysis, and digital pathology to construct an atlas of more than 5 million human skin cells across health, eczema (atopic dermatitis), and psoriasis. Together, we explore how advanced computational approaches uncovered previously hidden immune memory niches embedded within the skin, specialized microenvironments that may explain why inflammatory skin diseases repeatedly return to the same locations even after successful treatment. Topics discussed include: • Why traditional histopathology cannot fully capture the molecular organization of inflamed tissues. • How AI and spatial transcriptomics reveal biologically meaningful tissue architecture beyond what the human eye can see. • The role of resident memory T cells in inflammatory relapse. • Hidden immune niches within sebaceous glands and sweat glands. • New insights into immune memory in eczema and psoriasis. • The promise of atlas-scale biology for precision medicine. • How AI, spatial biology, and computational immunology are reshaping disease research and drug discovery. • The future of multidisciplinary research at the intersection of immunology, genomics, and artificial intelligence. Whether you are an immunologist, clinician, computational biologist, AI researcher, dermatologist, or simply interested in how emerging technologies are changing biomedical science, this episode offers an accessible yet in-depth discussion of one of the most exciting advances in spatial immunology. Featured study: Steele L. et al. A spatial atlas of human skin reveals immune memory niches in inflammatory skin disease. bioRxiv (2026). https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.20.713219v1 About Immunity by Design: Immunity by Design is a podcast exploring the intersection of immunology, artificial intelligence, data science, biotechnology, and medicine. Each episode features leading scientists and innovators discussing the discoveries, technologies, and ideas that are shaping the future of human health. Subscribe for future conversations with world-leading researchers working at the frontiers of immunology and AI. Music: “Minimal” by paulyudin, sourced from Pixabay and used under the Pixabay Content License (royalty-free for commercial use).

4. 

   2 Jun 2026

   Beyond Black Boxes: Decoding T Cell Recognition with Interpretable AI

   Professor David Gfeller discusses interpretable AI, TCR specificity profiles, cross-reactivity, chain pairing, and why understanding T cell recognition may matter more than black-box prediction. In this episode of Immunity by Design, Prof Hashem Koohy speaks with Professor David Gfeller (University of Lausanne & Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research) about the emerging rules governing T cell recognition and how interpretable AI may reshape computational immunology. The conversation explores three recent studies from David Gfeller’s group focused on TCR specificity profiles (TSPs), probabilistic modelling of TCR recognition, and the role of alpha-beta chain pairing in T cell specificity prediction. Together, these studies challenge several widely held assumptions in the field, including the dominance of black-box sequence prediction models, the centrality of paired TCR sequencing for prediction performance, and the underappreciated role of V and J gene usage in shaping antigen recognition. Key topics discussed include: Why sequence-based TCR prediction struggles to generalize across unseen epitopes o The biological and statistical foundations of TCR specificity profiles (TSPs) o TEMPO: an interpretable probabilistic framework for TCR epitope prediction o The importance of baseline repertoires in modelling T cell specificity o Structural insights into V/J gene usage and TCR recognition o Why alpha-beta chain pairing may contribute less predictive information than expected o Cross-reactivity, neoantigen recognition, and off-target toxicity prediction o The translational implications for TCR-based immunotherapies o Open science, preprints, and the future of AI-driven immunology research o The importance of interpretability in the era of increasingly powerful AI systems The episode also explores broader questions around multidisciplinary research culture, scientific training, and how computational and experimental scientists can collaborate more effectively. Music: “Minimal” by paulyudin, sourced from Pixabay and used under the Pixabay Content License (royalty-free for commercial use).

5. 

   22 May 2026

   The Hidden Biology of Crohn’s Fistula

   Dr Agne Antanaviciute joins Prof Hashem Koohy to discuss how spatial omics and single-cell technologies uncovered the hidden biology of Crohn’s fistula and revealed fibroblasts as key drivers of disease. Crohn’s fistula is one of the most severe and understudied complications of inflammatory bowel disease, causing chronic pain, recurrent infection, and profoundly reduced quality of life. Yet for decades, little was understood about the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving these destructive lesions. In this episode of Immunity by Design, Prof Hashem Koohy is joined by Dr Agne Antanviciute, a corresponding author of the recent Nature paper “Spatial Fibroblast Niches Define Crohn’s Fistula”, to explore how cutting-edge spatial omics and single-cell technologies are reshaping our understanding of chronic intestinal inflammation. The conversation explores: - what Crohn’s fistula actually is and why it is so devastating for patients - how multimodal technologies including single-cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, Xenium, Visium, and collagen imaging were integrated to build the largest molecular atlas of Crohn’s fistula to date - the discovery of specialised “FAS fibroblasts” that appear to drive tissue tunnelling, fibrosis, and chronic inflammation - how pathological wound healing and immune–stromal interactions may underpin disease progression - why these findings could have implications far beyond Crohn’s disease, including fibrosis and chronic inflammatory disorders in other organs - the future role of AI and computational biology in interpreting increasingly complex multimodal datasets The episode also reflects on multidisciplinary science, research culture, collaboration, scientific failure, and the changing future of biomedical research in the era of AI. Paper discussed: “Spatial Fibroblast Niches Define Crohn’s Fistula”, Nature (2025) Host: Prof Hashem Koohy, University of Oxford Guest: Dr Agne Antanaviciute Music: “Minimal” by paulyudin, sourced from Pixabay and used under the Pixabay Content License (royalty-free for commercial use).

6. 

   14 Apr 2026

   Can AI Solve Snakebite? With Dr Timothy Jenkins

   Prof Hashem Koohy is joined by Dr Timothy Jenkins to explore how AlphaFold and experimental technologies are transforming antibody discovery, enabling molecules that neutralise multiple snake venom toxins. Snakebite envenoming remains one of the most neglected global health challenges, causing over 100,000 deaths each year, yet antivenom design has changed little in more than a century. In this episode of Immunity by Design, Dr Timothy Jenkins (head of Centre for Translational Protein Design, at the Technical University of Denmark) joins us to discuss a new paradigm for antibody discovery at the interface of AI and biology. We explore his team’s recent work (bioRxiv: 2026.01.19.700436, link below), where they develop an integrated pipeline combining phage display, yeast display, deep sequencing, and structure prediction (AlphaFold3) to identify polyspecific nanobodies -- molecules capable of neutralizing multiple snake venom toxins simultaneously. This represents a fundamental shift from traditional approaches, moving from empirical discovery toward more predictive, design-driven strategies. The conversation unpacks not only how these technologies were brought together, but why this moment -- driven by advances in machine learning and structural biology-- makes such integration possible. We discuss the strengths and limitations of current tools (including AlphaFold), the concept of polyspecificity as a design principle, and how multi-objective optimisation (affinity, solubility) can be achieved without compromising function. Looking beyond snakebite, we explore how this pipeline could be applied across immunology and biomedicine— from viral escape and pandemic preparedness to cancer and biosecurity, highlighting the importance of democratising AI tools for tackling neglected and resource-limited diseases. Finally, we reflect on the human side of science: building multidisciplinary teams, fostering positive research culture, and navigating non-linear scientific careers at the interface of disciplines. bioRxiv: 2026.01.19.700436: https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.19.700436v1.abstract Music credit: Intro and outro features music from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston by Colin Carr.

7. 

   25 Mar 2026

   Decoding T Cell Recognition at Scale by Dr Stephanie Gaglione

   Dr Stephanie Gaglione discusses scalable technologies to map T cell receptor antigen interactions, enabling large datasets that could transform how we study immune recognition and build computational models of immunity. In this episode of 'Immunity by Design', Dr Hashem Koohy speaks with Dr Stephanie Gaglione about new experimental approaches that could transform how we study T cell recognition. At the heart of adaptive immunity lies the interaction between T cell receptors (TCRs) and antigenic peptides presented by MHC molecules. However, mapping these interactions at scale has remained one of the central challenges in immunology. Dr Gaglione discusses her work on scalable strategies for reconstructing and screening large numbers of TCRs, including the TCRAFT approach developed during her PhD with Michael Birnbaum at MIT. By enabling the reconstruction of thousands of TCRs from sequence data and integrating functional screening technologies such as RAPTR, these methods open the door to generating high-quality datasets linking TCR sequences to antigen specificity. The conversation explores the technological hurdles of many-to-many TCR antigen screening, the importance of accessible experimental tools for building community-scale datasets, and how such data could accelerate the development of computational models that predict immune recognition. The episode also touches on applications in autoimmune disease, including vitiligo, and the broader implications for immunology, cancer research, and data driven discovery.

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