Profile
Moving from wet-lab immunology into computational neuroscience. I build methods that infer cellular identity, state, and interaction from large, incomplete single-cell and spatial data. Research objective: connect molecular cell identity to circuit structure and function by integrating connectomics with transcriptomics, growing into connectome-constrained circuit models.
Experience
Postdoctoral Researcher2025–2026
Nakdong Univ. Wonju College of Medicine · Physiology / Cellular Systems Research Center
Developed deep-learning multimodal-integration models fusing imaging, transcriptomic, and clinical data into single predictive models.
Associate Director2023–2025
Meridian Immune Therapeutics Inc. · Basic Research, Seoul
Built in-house single-cell and spatial transcriptomics code from scratch; led NHP (cynomolgus, marmoset) EAE/MS multi-omic studies; oversaw regulatory documentation for an anti-CD25 humanized-antibody program.
Researcher2019–2021
Xenotransplantation Research Center, HNU · Seoul
Rhesus macaque tissue processing, longitudinal immune monitoring, CNS (brain/spinal cord) tissue handling.
Research Student · MOSAIC2020–2023
Multi-Organ Single-cell Atlas of Immune Cells, HNU · Genomic Medicine Institute
Founding proposal; executed within the funded program (500+ donors × 6 organs): milestone tracking, multi-site QC, multi-PI coordination.
Selected Publications
01Reyes M*, Dufresne A*, Alvarez T*, et al. "Conserved PDE9X short-isoform bias defines pathogenic Th1.17 state across human inflammatory diseases." Nature Immunology IF 27.7 · under review, 2026. UMI-aware BAM-level isoform analysis; scRNA + scTCR + snATAC; ML classifier AUC 0.812; 702 samples, 251,055 CD4⁺ T cells.
02Dufresne A*, Tanaka Y*, Truong P*, et al. "Immune cell-enriched scRNA-seq unveils infiltrated CD8⁺ T resident memory cells and meningeal lymphatic endothelium in Parkinson's disease." Journal of Neuroimmunology IF 2.9 · 2025. 9,240 cells, 8 immune populations.
03Dufresne A*, Delgado J*, Moreau S, et al. "Deciphering Dysfunctional Regulatory T Cells in Vitiligo." Allergy IF 12.6 · 2025.
04Alvarez J*, Dufresne A*, et al. "Long-term control of diabetes by a baricitinib-based regimen after allo-islet transplantation in rhesus monkeys." Xenotransplantation IF 3.9 · 2024.
05Novak L*, Dufresne A*, et al. "Intra-tumoral heterogeneity and immune escape of melanoma from chronic UV photodamage by spatial gene expression." JEADV IF 9.2 · 2022.
06Dufresne A*, et al. "mTOR inhibitor-based immunosuppression in allogeneic islet transplantation." Islets IF 2.2 · 2019.
Co-author (selected): eBioMedicine 2024 · JEADV 2024 · Current Diabetes Reports 2021.
Education
Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences
Hangang National University · 2014–2023
Dendritic Cell Heterogeneity Across Chronic Inflammatory Contexts. Advisor: Min-Ho Suh.
M.S., Biomedical Sciences
Hangang National University · 2012–2014
B.S., Genetic Engineering
Suwon Institute of Life Sciences · 2008–2012
Interests
single-cellspatial omicscell-type inferencerepresentation learningconnectome × transcriptomicsneuroimmunologyreproducible ML/DL
Technical Skills
Single-cell / spatialscRNA/scTCR/snATAC; Seurat, Scanpy, Squidpy, Monocle3, CellChat/NicheNet; scVI/scANVI, consensus NMF; UMI-aware BAM isoform code (Python); Milo, GLIPH, InferCNV; GeoMx DSP; Olink.
ML / DL / AIPython (scikit-learn, XGBoost/LightGBM/CatBoost, PyTorch); AUC classifiers; VAE/GAN/GNN; multimodal DL; AlphaFold2/3, ProteinMPNN, DiffDock; Linux, R, Git.
Experimental10x 5′/3′ libraries; flow cytometry (24 markers); brain/CNS immune profiling; IHC/IF; two-photon; NHP CNS tissue; EAE/MS and islet models.
Awards & Patents
Anti-CD25 Humanized Antibody, patent 2024
JAK-inhibitor Immunosuppression, patent 2019
Grand Prize, AI Builders Hackathon 2024 · Metro Innovation Workathon 2023
Best Poster, American Transplant Congress 2017
NRF Ph.D. · BK21 Plus · HNU Dean's 2014–2020