Pardis Sabeti

Pardis Sabeti is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard University, and an Investigator at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). Her laboratory, located in the Northwest Building, focuses on understanding evolutionary adaptation in humans and pathogens through three core research areas: developing analytical methods to detect natural selection in genomes, identifying functional traits shaped by selection in humans (e.g., resistance to Lassa fever, hair/sweat/teeth development), and studying rapid evolutionary changes in pathogens that drive human disease.

Her research integrates computational biology, genomics, and experimental approaches. Notable contributions include the discovery of the role of the EDAR gene in human adaptation and the development of statistical methods for detecting natural selection in genomic data. Collaborations span global health challenges, such as malaria and viral outbreaks, emphasizing both basic science and translational applications.

Recent work highlights advancements in understanding pathogen evolution, particularly in Plasmodium falciparum (malaria) and viral diagnostics. Her lab’s methodologies, such as those published in Science and Cell, have become foundational tools in evolutionary and genomic research.

• Labs/Teams: Sabeti Lab (Harvard University and Broad Institute)
• Key Collaborations: Partnerships with global health institutions and genomic consortia.