The new tool, which is called CRISPR-Cas12a, can help researchers simultaneously assess the impact of multiple genetic changes involved in variety of immune system responses, the researchers say. The lab also enabled the rapid generation of new disease and treatment models, such as genetic disease in the liver, lung cancer, and skin cancer. This advance, he said, will offer a valuable tool to researchers creating new therapies for a host of pathologies, including cancer, metabolic disease, autoimmune disease, and neurological disorders. Chen is a member of the Systems Biology Institute at Yale’s West Campus and an affiliate of Yale Cancer Center, Yale Stem Cell Center, and Yale Center for Biomedical Data Science. The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense.