Understanding the genetic basis of immunological processes and their overall dynamics under the influence of population immunogenetics and host-microbe interactions has been at the core of health and disease research. Our understanding of these dynamics has recently undergone a paradigm shift with the application of high-resolution single cell or spatial omics technologies that have facilitated a deeper understanding of healthy or diseased immune milieu. At Genes & Immunity, we wish to revamp the journal to cater to these trends and bring together researchers working at these multidisciplinary interfaces of immunology and genetics, with the aim of advancing fundamental and translational knowledge while revealing new immunotherapy or biomarker modalities.

While chemotherapeutic agents were long solely associated with immunosuppression, clinical data demonstrate that the combination of some chemotherapies with immunomodulators can be beneficial against cancer. Defining combinations featuring optimal anticancer activity along with minimal toxicity remains however a major challenge. Clinical evidence suggests that immune responses in patients treated with combination therapies are associated with progression-free survival. Progress in understanding the mechanisms responsible for anticancer immune responses following chemotherapy administration facilitated the translation of relevant chemoimmunotherapy combinations in the clinic.