Dr. Indika Rajapakse, Ph.D Mathematics, will participate in mentored research and training at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (FHCRC) and the University of Washington (UW). The proposed research will apply mathematical techniques to the analysis of biological data from the basic science (cellular) level and the clinical (disease outcome) level, with the goal of extracting information about genetic architecture in the hematopoietic lineage. Training goals include obtaining a basic understanding of biological approaches and developing proficiency in applying quantitative methods to analysis of gene expression and genomic data. The primary and co-mentors lend expertise in analysis of high dimensional data, cell and molecular biology, and clinical research. Mentors include Dr. C. Kooperberg, co-program head, Biostatistics and Biomathematics (FHCRC) and affiliate professor, Biostatistics (UW), Dr. M. Groudine, deputy director and executive vice president of the FHCRC and professor, Department of Radiation Oncology and Pathology (UW), and Dr. J. Hansen, Clinical Research Division (FHCRC) and professor, Division of Oncology (UW). Training in quantitative methodologies will be guided by Dr. Kooperberg, and further experience will be gained through coursework at the UW, exposure to cell and molecular biology techniques in Dr. Groudine's lab, and exposure to clinical research with Dr. Hansen. Gene expression and chromosome spatial data (SKY) will be obtained from Dr. Groudine's lab, and Dr. Hansen will provide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) marker data. SNP data will be used to identify significant genetic signatures that contribute to disease outcome.
The aim of analyzing gene expression patterns across the genome and spatial characterization of genes will give us a more complete picture of coordinated gene regulation and organization of the genome during hematopoiesis. Dynamical models will be developed to describe this process. Quantitative methods will include multivariate statistical techniques and network, matrix, and dynamical systems theories. Experience gained during this course of research will endow Dr. Rajapakse with unique and exceptional qualifications as an independent researcher in the quantitative biomedical field.

Public Health Relevance

Finding patterns of coordinated gene regulation will allow us more fully understand the process of cellular differentiation within the hematopoietic lineage, which has vital implications for blood cancers and their treatments. Finding interacting genes present in blood cancer patients will enable us to better assess genetic risk and identify potential therapeutic targets.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Mentored Quantitative Research Career Development Award (K25)
Project #
5K25DK082791-06
Application #
8508251
Study Section
Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases B Subcommittee (DDK)
Program Officer
Bishop, Terry Rogers
Project Start
2009-08-01
Project End
2014-06-30
Budget Start
2013-07-01
Budget End
2014-06-30
Support Year
6
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$166,884
Indirect Cost
$12,362
Name
University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Department
Biostatistics & Other Math Sci
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
073133571
City
Ann Arbor
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48109
Chen, Jie; Hero 3rd, Alfred O; Rajapakse, Indika (2016) Spectral identification of topological domains. Bioinformatics 32:2151-8
Chen, Haiming; Comment, Nicholas; Chen, Jie et al. (2015) Chromosome conformation of human fibroblasts grown in 3-dimensional spheroids. Nucleus 6:55-65
Chen, Haiming; Chen, Jie; Muir, Lindsey A et al. (2015) Functional organization of the human 4D Nucleome. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 112:8002-7
Rajapakse, Indika; Perlman, Michael D; Martin, Paul J et al. (2012) Multivariate detection of gene-gene interactions. Genet Epidemiol 36:622-30
Rajapakse, Indika; Groudine, Mark; Mesbahi, Mehran (2012) What can systems theory of networks offer to biology? PLoS Comput Biol 8:e1002543
Rajapakse, Indika; Groudine, Mark (2011) On emerging nuclear order. J Cell Biol 192:711-21
Rajapakse, Indika; Scalzo, David; Groudine, Mark (2011) Losing control: cancer's catastrophic transition. Nucleus 2:249-52
Rajapakse, Indika; Groudine, Mark; Mesbahi, Mehran (2011) Dynamics and control of state-dependent networks for probing genomic organization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:17257-62
Pitt, Jason N; Rajapakse, Indika; Ferré-D'Amaré, Adrian R (2010) SEWAL: an open-source platform for next-generation sequence analysis and visualization. Nucleic Acids Res 38:7908-15
Rajapakse, Indika; Scalzo, David; Tapscott, Stephen J et al. (2010) Networking the nucleus. Mol Syst Biol 6:395