Meet Our Researchers

Alina Chan
Alina Chan is a molecular biologist who specializes in gene therapy and cell engineering.
To contribute to global research efforts against the pandemic, Alina recently led the launch of a new open-source website to track the genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2. The site, called COVID-19 Coronavirus Genetics, has aggregated hundreds of thousands of SARS-CoV-2 sequences from researchers around the world to trace the virus’ distinct mutations as it spreads across different geographic regions over time. Researchers can now freely use this online resource to answer critical questions about the coronavirus, including which genetic variants to test new therapeutics and diagnostics on before implementation in a specific region. BroadIgnite funds will enable Alina and her collaborators to dramatically expand the capabilities of the site and incorporate data from hundreds of thousands of new SARS-CoV-2 genomes over the next years to capture developing trends in the pandemic.