Nicholas Banovich, Ph.D.

Dr. Nicholas Banovich leads transformative research in understanding how genetic and molecular variations contribute to disease. By leveraging advanced genomic technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics, his team maps genetic and molecular changes at the level of individual cells, providing critical insights into how these diseases develop and progress. This work aims to identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets to improve patient outcomes. Dr. Banovich also serves as the Director of the Division of Bioinnovation and Genome Sciences at TGen, alongside Dr. Sara Byron.

Dr. Banovich’s research spans multiple disease areas, including chronic lung disease and response to therapy in cancer. His work in pulmonary fibrosis has uncovered critical gene regulatory pathways, novel cell types, and cellular states that are central to disease progression. His lab is extending this work to understand the earliest changes in the lungs of individuals who go on to develop pulmonary fibrosis by examining pre-symptomatic individuals. He is also working to uncover molecular dysregulation associated with neonatal lung injury. By studying lung disease across the lifespan, the team seeks to identify shared molecular pathways that could inform prevention and treatment strategies. His research also extends to CAR T-cell therapy, where the lab collaborates with City of Hope to understand how these therapies interact with tumors in both pediatric and adult patients, including brain cancers like GBM. The Banovich Lab not only applies cutting-edge genomic technologies but also develops innovative approaches to expand the capabilities of single-cell and spatial transcriptomics, pioneering novel tissue processing methods and computational approaches.

As Director of the Center for Spatial Multi-Omics (COSMO) at TGen, Dr. Banovich oversees core operations for TGen’s spatial multi-omic capabilities. An expert in spatial transcriptomics, he leads COSMO as a hub for high-resolution studies that reveal the spatial organization of gene activity across healthy and diseased tissues. COSMO serves researchers at TGen, City of Hope, and beyond.