Research
Our faculty carry out independent research to develop and improve the quantitative science that underlies bioinformatics tools and methods. The tools and software they develop are freely available.
Current Faculty Projects:
- Genome Data Analysis Center (GDAC), as part of The Cancer Genome Atlas project of the NIH
- Combining drug sensitivity results with gene expression profiles
- Discovering and validating cancer signatures in reverse-phase protein lysate array (RPPA) data
- Better quantifications and processing of RPPA data
- Analysis of methylation arrays
- Searching for alternative splicing using exon arrays
- Sample size computations for microarray and proteomics profiling experiments
- Low-level processing of mass spectrometry proteomics data
Bioinformatics Shared Resource
The Bioinformatics Shared Resource (BISR) of The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is partially funded by the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, through the Cancer Center Support Grant, P30 CA016672.
BISR Director: John N. Weinstein, M.D., Ph.D.
Co-director: Jing Wang, Ph.D.
The BISR provides consultative services for and conducts collaborative research with clinical and basic science departments and enhances quantitative methods through innovative research in genomics, proteomics, molecular and cellular biology, radiotherapy, computer-assisted diagnoses, and image analysis.
Collaboration/Support
Contact BISR faculty and analysts for long-term or short-term research collaboration and support.
New Projects – There are 4 ways to initiate contact:
- Submit an online request form (intranet site under the Department of Bioinformatics & Computational Biology). You will be contacted by a bioinformatic or computational biology specialist, usually within one to two working days.
- Meet with the on-duty analysts at the Wednesday drop-in clinic (intranet site) for questions and small projects.
- Contact the faculty liaison (intranet site) assigned to your department.
- Approach or otherwise directly contact a member of the BISR.
Turnaround times vary depending on the size and scope of the project. You should anticipate a minimum of 2 weeks.
Contact a faculty member, analyst, or programmer in the Department of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology:
- as you are starting to plan your research protocol
- at least 2 weeks before an abstract submission for a meeting or conference is due
- at least 4 weeks before an R01 grant proposal is due
- at least 16 weeks before a P01 grant proposal is due
- at least 16 weeks before a SPORE grant proposal is due
For an initial consultation:
- Bring the PI name, project name, and grant number associated with your research project. If the research is not funded through a grant, bring the name of the primary investigator and the project name.
- Bring any information, including preliminary data, that will help to explain your project and the science that motivates it.
Fee: The BISR does not charge a fee for its service; however, co-authorship on manuscripts and salary support through the PI’s funding mechanism (when applicable) are requested.