Several types of innovative technologies used by researchers at the UNM Cancer Center produce large and complicated high-dimensional data that require specialized expertise, computational resources and software for analysis. These include next-generation sequencing (NGS) studies, high-throughput drug screening (HTS) (coupled with cheminformatics, target analytics and pharmacoinformatics), and super-resolution microscopy (including quantitative and hyperspectral techniques). Providing access to high-quality, expert and cost-effective data analysis solutions is just as important as making cutting-edge instrumentation and lab techniques available to users, so that they can make the best use of the data that are produced. The Bioinformatics and High-Dimensional Data Analysis Shared Resource provides UNM Cancer Center members with the expertise and technologies necessary to make use of these complicated data sets in a way that supports the goals of the UNM Cancer Center Research Programs and promotes innovative basic and translational cancer research in the UNM Cancer Center catchment area.
The goals of the resource are to:
Provide Informatics, Analytics and Knowledge Management Support via Cost-Effective Services, Technologies, Equipment and Expertise to Enable Innovative Cancer Research
The Resource will provide UNM Cancer Center members with access to experts in complex, high-dimensional data analysis and will support the software, computational needs and integrative knowledge necessary to accomplish the research goals. Using a collaborative model, the Resource will provide a cost-effective means for researchers to analyze complicated and specialized data without the need for individual laboratories to develop such skills on their own. By providing a unified point of contact, The Resource will provide researchers with access to information about specialized data analysis methods and capabilities and to the formation of collaborations with the appropriate experts for their research goals.
Promote Excellence in Cancer Research
The Resource Directors are leaders in their respective fields. By working together they provide users with access to highly innovative data analysis strategies and capabilities that will elevate the quality of the research produced in the UNM Cancer Center. The Resource, led by J Edwards (CGEG), will work closely with users to apply advanced, customized or integrated analysis strategies to next-generation sequencing data, pushing the analysis past the basic or standard pipelines available from cloud-based services. UNMCC researchers requiring tools for cheminformatics, target analytics and pharmacoinformatics will be assisted by Dr. Oprea (CT), who will apply specialized algorithms, approaches and databases to chemical space problems that will promote the research of users to the next level by analyzing and prioritizing the results of the high-throughput screening and subsequently developing strategies for drug development. Image analysis demands will be met by Dr. Lidke (TCBS), who will help users take advantage of innovative new microscopy methods such as super-resolution or hyperspectral techniques, empowering users to perform much more detailed, quantitative and higher-resolution analyses.
Provide Education and Promote Awareness About Bioinformatics Technologies and Services
The Resource will maintain and update a dedicated web page with information and links to assist potential users. It will contribute to a quarterly newsletter that highlights and explains Resource services and technologies, and will help users prepare competitive grant proposals that involve complex or high-dimensional data analysis. Resource leaders will attend and contribute to research program and other UNM Cancer Center meetings to provide expertise and feedback on the technologies and services available in the Resource.
