Overview
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, computer science, and statistics to analyse and interpret biological data. It plays a central role in managing and extracting insights from large datasets, such as DNA sequences, protein structures, and gene expression profiles. Bioinformatics enables researchers to understand complex biological systems, discover disease mechanisms, and develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
Bioinformatics at the MRC Toxicology Unit
The Bioinformatics Core Facility provides comprehensive and integrated informatics and computational analysis for the Unit Programmes and external collaborative projects.
Analysis of data generated by research groups and/or other Facilities in the Unit is carried out using open-source, and in-house developed software utilising the University of Cambridge High Performance Computing Service (HPC). The Core Facility members research and develop novel bioinformatic tools, algorithms, statistical data mining tools and software to fully support the Unit's systems approach to understanding mechanisms of Toxicity.
Major areas covered include:
1. Statistical data mining of biological and chemical databases.
2. Statistical analysis and validation of in vitro, in vivo and clinical datasets.
3. Implementing machine learning algorithms to support research on drug sensitivity and potential off-target effects.
4. Sequence bioinformatics mainly based on Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) data from various sources.
5. Differential gene expression, differential protein abundance and differential population composition analysis.
6. Functional enrichment analyses of gene/protein lists, including pathway analysis, and definition of UTR motifs.
7. Protein structural biology, in particular utilising novel AI tools (e.g., Alphafold) to predict protein-protein, protein-ligand interactions
8. Various metagenomics approaches to study microbial communities.
9. Mathematical modelling of the dynamics of microbial communities
Contact:
Bioinformatics Facility Manager: Lajos Kalmar
Email: bioinfo@mrc-tox.cam.ac.uk
Facility staff
|
Lajos Kalmar
Bioinformatics Facility Manager |
Weiwei Zhou
Bioinformatician |
