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Immunologist Adriana Tomic keeps a watchful eye on the human immune system using ‘omics’ and artificial intelligence

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Talking to Prof. Adriana Tomic feels like checking in with the best friend you haven’t spoken to in a while. Her friendly personality immediately pulls you in and you know you are up for an exciting time talking about “God and the world (and research)” as a German idiom wisely states.

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Indeed, Adriana’s research is nothing short of fascinating. Her laboratory aims to understand how the human immune system responds to different pathogens (viruses in particular) and how we can use that knowledge to generate better vaccines. For that purpose, Adriana and her team apply powerful ‘omics’ as well as AI and data-driven approaches with the ultimate goal to create more effective vaccines.

When Adriana is not targeting viruses with her team, she loves to visit her home country Croatia together with her partner and biggest supporter Ivan, the lead data scientist in the Atomic lab. Their shared passion for science inspired the laboratory’s cool name: The A.Tomic lab.

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Adriana took the time to introduce us to her career and the work she and her team, the Atomic lab’s “Elementary Particles,” conduct.

 

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Please tell us a bit about your roots? Where do you come from and when was it a done deal that you were going to be a scientist?

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I was born in Croatia, but my love for science has taken me on a global journey. My path to becoming a scientist was clear from a young age. I was always the curious one, the girl who would dismantle things just to understand how they worked. My mother kept a little book where she noted down all the questions I had about the world, and as I grew, I would answer them. This early curiosity and love for understanding the unknown set the stage for my career in science.

I remember the thrill of receiving my first paycheck as a PhD student. It was unbelievable to think that someone would actually pay me to pursue my passion for science, bring my ideas to life, and conduct experiments in the lab.

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What was the progression of your university career until now?

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I finished my undergraduate studies in biochemistry in Slovenia. As a child, I always dreamed of being a chemist, looking up to figures like Marie Curie and Dmitri Mendeleev. However, during my final year, I took a course in immunology that completely captivated me. The field was brimming with unanswered questions, opportunities to deepen our understanding, and the potential to impact the treatment of diseases.

My passion for understanding immunology, coupled with the realization that viruses are the perfect tools for this pursuit (as they understand our immune system better than anyone else), led me to pursue a PhD at the Institute of Virology in Hannover, Germany. My father's diagnosis with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, also fueled my interest. Growing up, I often wondered why there was no cure and what caused this condition. To further focus my learning about the human immune system, I then expanded my knowledge in Systems Immunology during my postdoctoral training at Stanford University in California, joining the lab of Dr. Mark Davis, a pioneer in human and systems immunology.

Later, I received the Marie Curie Fellowship for immunology, a fitting tribute to my childhood idol. This fellowship brought me back to Europe, specifically the University of Oxford, where I led a small research group as an independent principal investigator during the pandemic. A year and half ago, I joined Boston University as an assistant professor.

 

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Can you tell us about the research foci of your laboratory: advanced AI and ‘omics’ technologies to improve human immunology?

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During my doctoral research, I focused on developing a new vaccine for cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is a common virus that poses a serious risk for newborns, leading to birth defects, and individuals with weakened immune system. Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent CMV infection. One of the major challenges in developing CMV vaccine is that the virus is highly species-specific. This means that results obtained from animal studies often do not translate well to humans, making vaccine development difficult. My research tackled this issue head-on, and ultimately led to the design and patenting of a novel vaccine platform technology that could pave the way for an effective human CMV vaccine.

The challenges I encountered during my doctoral thesis on CMV vaccine development highlighted a fundamental issue in immunology research: a significant portion of our current knowledge is derived from studies in mice, which may not accurately reflect the complexities of the human immune system. This realization sparked my decision to shift my research focus and address this critical gap in our understanding.

To bridge this gap, my current research focuses on directly analyzing human immune responses, working with human samples and utilizing cutting-edge “omics” technologies. By prioritizing human-centric studies, I aim to unravel the unique intricacies of the human immune system and contribute to the development of more effective therapies and vaccines tailored to human biology. Fortunately, recent advances in computational tools and algorithms have enabled us to extract more meaningful information from human immunology data. This has opened up exciting possibilities for advancing our understanding of human immunology beyond what mouse models can offer. This led me to pursue postdoctoral training with Dr. Mark Davis at Stanford University, as previously mentioned. This experience proved invaluable, providing me with new tools and perspectives to advance my research.

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Many diseases affect the human immune system. What diseases are your laboratory particularly interested in and why?

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We are particularly interested in understanding infectious diseases caused by emerging and re-emerging viruses for which we still lack highly effective vaccines. Our goal is not only to cure individual diseases but also to develop universal vaccines that can provide broad protection to as many people as possible, thereby preventing pandemics from happening. Additionally, by studying viruses and their interactions with human hosts, we can gain valuable insights into the workings of the human immune system, as viruses have evolved to exploit its vulnerabilities.

 

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Do you have career/research milestones you like to look back upon?

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While I am currently focused on developing universal vaccines with broader protection to prevent future pandemics, one of the most significant milestones in my career was being part of the Oxford COVID-19 Vaccine Group during the pandemic. This experience was both humbling and incredibly motivating, as it allowed me to apply my knowledge of immunology to help address a global health crisis.  It solidified my passion for using research to make a real-world impact, and I hope to have the opportunity to contribute to similar efforts in the future.

 

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Who was/is your biggest supporter throughout your career?

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My partner, Ivan, has been my biggest supporter on every level. He has been an unwavering source of both personal and professional support, which is absolutely essential when pursuing a career in science. Having someone who understands the challenges, celebrates the successes, and provides encouragement during setbacks is invaluable. When you decide to do science, you move around, so having somebody in your life who supports you is absolutely necessary.

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What advice would you give aspiring scientists?

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First, never stop learning. Embrace a lifelong commitment to expanding your knowledge and skills, as this is the foundation to push the scientific boundaries further. Second, nurture your curiosity and sense of wonder.  Maintain the same playful spirit and inquisitive nature you had as a child, as these qualities will fuel your creativity and drive your passion for discovery. Finally, be kind to yourself. The path of scientific inquiry can be challenging, so remember to relax, enjoy the process, and celebrate achievements along the way. Remember, being a scientist is fun and fulfilling journey.  

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Who, what, when, where & why?

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Who?

- would you like to conduct research with if you had the chance?​

If I could collaborate with any scientists, I would be honored to work alongside three individuals who have deeply inspired my own research: Polly Matzinger, Irun Cohen, and the late Lynn Margulis.

Polly Matzinger's "Danger Theory" has fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the immune system. Her groundbreaking work challenged the prevailing "self/non-self" model, proposing instead that the immune system responds primarily to danger signals released by damaged or dying cells. This theory has had profound implications for vaccine development, immunotherapy, and our broader understanding of immune responses. Engaging in research with Dr. Matzinger would be an incredible opportunity to further explore the nuances of her theory and potentially develop new approaches to manipulate danger signals for therapeutic benefit.

Irun Cohen's concept of the "Immunological Homunculus" is another source of immense inspiration for me. This theory posits that the immune system creates an internal representation of the body, allowing it to recognize and respond to threats more effectively. Cohen's work has also led to pioneering efforts in immune system simulation, a field that I am particularly passionate about. Collaborating with him would allow me to delve deeper into the intricacies of the immunological homunculus and potentially contribute to the development of more sophisticated models for predicting immune responses.

Finally, Lynn Margulis, known as the Scientific Rebel, revolutionized our understanding of evolution with her theory of symbiosis. Her work highlighted the importance of cooperation and collaboration in the evolution of life, a concept that I believe has significant implications for immunology. While tragically Dr. Margulis is no longer with us, I would have relished the opportunity to explore with her the potential of harnessing symbiotic relationships between microbes and the immune system for therapeutic purposes.

Collaborating with these visionary scientists would not only be an immense personal honor but would also undoubtedly lead to groundbreaking discoveries in the field of immunology. Their courage to challenge conventional wisdom and their unwavering commitment to scientific inquiry serve as an inspiration for me and countless other researchers.

 

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What?

- do you like to do in your free time?​

When I'm not immersed in the lab, I love to go sailing. Being out on the water, away from the distractions of technology, offers a unique opportunity to connect with nature and truly relax.

 

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When?

- do you find inspiration for your research?​

The biggest inspiration often comes when I step away from the lab and immerse myself in other forms of creativity or connect with nature.  Whether I'm gazing at a captivating piece of art, attending a thought-provoking theatrical performance, losing myself in the melodies of a concert, or taking a peaceful walk in nature, these experiences ignite my imagination and spark new ideas for my research.

 

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Where?

- is your favorite travel destination?

​I would have to say my home country, as I do not get many chances to go back

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Why?

- did you choose your specific research topic(s)?​

Viruses are the simplest life forms on our planet, yet they have the greatest impact on our lives. Understanding this paradox is what drives my research. I am fascinated by the challenge of studying these small pieces of genetic material, identifying patterns within their genetic code and using that knowledge to develop cures and vaccines.

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How?

- do you deal with setbacks?​

A healthy dose of dark chocolate and a good vent session with my partner or friends usually does the trick! But seriously, I try not to view setbacks as actual setbacks but rather as opportunities for learning and growth, so setbacks go in one ear and out the other, as they say.

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…or?

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Attend a party or be the host?​

I love being a host, and my go-to party to organize is a Halloween party.

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Museum or movie theatre?​

I love museums of all kinds - modern art museums, scientific museums, natural history museums, etc.  I’m not a huge fan of movie theaters, but if I do watch a movie, I prefer to do so at a film festival.

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Sneakers or dress shoes?​

Dress shoes! I would have loved to have been born during the era of The Great Gatsby when people were always dressed up so elegantly.

 

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Optimist or pessimist?​

Optimist.

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Ambition or comfort?​

Ambition.

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See the future or change the past?​

The future, definitely! I'm curious to see if we have finally developed a universal flu vaccine or maybe even a truly universal vaccine against multiple diseases. And, of course, I'd be very interested to see if that whole AI Terminator scenario from those movies has come true!

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The interview was conducted by Nicole Kilian and has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Image sources: Adriana Tomic.

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Follow Adriana:

 

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  • Twitter @TomicAdriana
  • LinkedIn Adriana Tomic

© 2024 by Science Speaks.

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