Computational biology
Our computational biology research focuses on the analysis and integration of high throughput data.
We focus on the analysis and integration of high throughput data by defining and quantifying sources of uncertainty in biological systems and how this is reflected in the data to improve sensitivity and accuracy in the analysis of high throughput genomic data. In past years my lab worked on developing computational tools, pipelines, appropriate experimental designs and protocols to assist in improving accuracy and sensitivity in the analysis of transcriptomic data and majorly contributed to the following fields:
- propagation of uncertainty, associated with low-level data, in downstream analysis of microarray data
- quantification and inference of gene expression levels using probabilistic models
Currently, it focuses on studying “omics” of Pluripotent Stem Cells (PSCs), within the UK Regenerative Medicine Platform (UKRMP), both at population and single-cell level. We are part of the UKRM programme in particular with the PSEC hub, led by prof Roger Barker, University of Cambridge, working on developing methods to identify the impact on mutations on cell fate and cell lineages and to integrate genomics and transcriptomic using epigenetic markers as linkages.
This lab also contributes to the field of neuroscience, both for sensory neuroscience and neurodegenerative diseases with particular focus on ALS via collaboration with Dr Guillaume Hautbergue in the Sheffield Institute of Translational Neuroscience. In the field of Sensory Neuroscience, we have active collaboration with Professor Valera-Nieto (Madrid) to study the effect of ageing in neurosensory degeneration.