Transplant immunology is the study of the body’s immune response after a transplant of tissue or organs from one individual to another, which may act as a barrier to a successful transplant. A transplant may potentially be rejected by the recipient, due to the recognition of the transplanted organ or tissue as a foreign body, by the immune system. The risk of rejection may be reduced by genetic screening techniques for compatibility, prior to transplantation, and administration of immunosuppressive drugs following the transplant.

Immunogenetics is the study of genetics as it pertains to the body’s immune response. Genetic variations can cause immunological disorders and autoimmune diseases such as type I diabetes, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease.