Gosia Trynka

Gosia Trynka is Science Director at Open Targets and a Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, where she leads the Immune Genomics Group. She is embedded in both the Human Genetics Programme and Open Targets programme at the Sanger Institute, positioning her research at the intersection of human genetics, foundational biology, and translational impact. Her work focuses on understanding how genetic variation influences immune cell function and contributes to human disease, with the goal of bridging the gap from genetic associations to mechanistic insights and therapeutic discovery.

Dr. Trynka completed her PhD cum laude at the University of Groningen, where she studied the genetic and molecular basis of coeliac disease. Her doctoral work contributed to the discovery of numerous novel risk loci for immune diseases. Prior to that, she earned her MSc in Biotechnology, Biophysics and Biochemistry from Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. Following her PhD, she conducted postdoctoral research at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, and the Broad Institute, where she led studies integrating GWAS signals with chromatin annotations to pinpoint disease-relevant cell types.

Dr. Trynka's research combines three complementary approaches: 1) Single-cell eQTL mapping in dynamic immune states, including Project JAGUAR which studies immune regulation across diverse ancestries; 2) CRISPR perturbation of immune disease-associated genes to define causal gene functions; and 3) High-content imaging to reveal cellular phenotypes beyond what transcriptomics alone can capture. Her work specifically focuses on CD4+ T cells and their activation states, investigating how genetic variants influence gene expression dynamics during immune responses. This research aims to uncover the regulatory architecture of the immune system and translate that knowledge into pathways for therapeutic discovery, particularly for autoimmune and immune-mediated diseases.

Analysis of Dr. Trynka's recent publications reveals a strong focus on integrating single-cell genomics with functional validation to understand immune disease mechanisms. Her work increasingly emphasizes the importance of cellular context in understanding genetic effects, with numerous studies examining gene expression dynamics during T cell activation. A notable trend is the expansion of her research to include diverse populations through Project JAGUAR, addressing the underrepresentation of non-European ancestries in genomic studies. Her publications also show growing integration of multiple omics approaches, combining transcriptomics, imaging, and CRISPR-based functional validation to bridge the gap between genetic associations and biological mechanisms.

While specific awards aren't detailed in the provided information, Dr. Trynka's research has been published in high-impact journals including Nature, Nature Genetics, and Cell, indicating recognition of her scientific contributions. Her leadership of the Immune Genomics Group and role as Science Director of Open Targets represent significant professional achievements that reflect the scientific community's confidence in her expertise.

Dr. Trynka leads a multidisciplinary research group at the Sanger Institute, mentoring PhD students and postdoctoral researchers including Dafni Glinos, Julie Matte, Megan Gozzard, and Eddie Cano Gamez. Through the Open Targets consortium, she collaborates with both academic and industry partners, which provides significant grant funding and resources for her research. These collaborations help ensure her work remains focused on translational goals with potential impact on drug discovery pipelines.

Dr. Trynka leads the Immune Genomics Group at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, which includes both experimental and computational scientists. Her team utilizes advanced platforms for single-cell transcriptomics, CRISPR screening, and high-content imaging to study immune cell function. She also co-leads Project JAGUAR, a large-scale collaborative initiative across Latin America aimed at addressing population underrepresentation in genetic studies. Through Open Targets, she works closely with pharmaceutical partners, creating a unique environment where basic research directly informs drug target identification.