Neuroinformatics for gene expression: networks, function and meta-analysis

描述(申请人提供)：生物医学研究中一个持久的挑战是破译基因的功能，特别是它们如何共同作用影响人类健康和疾病。该项目以我们在基因表达谱数据荟萃分析方面的经验为基础，以神经系统为重点，开发和应用用于研究大量功能基因组数据的计算数据库、工具和技术。我们的第一个目标是改进和应用神经系统中基因功能的计算分析方法，基于来自表达谱和其他公共数据的基因网络。我们的第二个目标是研究表型和基因表达模式之间的关系，并应用这些方法来研究与神经系统疾病相关的表达变化。第三，我们建议开发新的基因网络可视化方法，并结合转录基因调控的数据，包括转录因子结合位点和基因表达中的遗传变异。这些资源将被设计成与其他神经信息学数据库互操作，并通过我们的“Gema”基于网络的数据库系统传播。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): An enduring challenge in biomedical research is deciphering the function of genes, and in particular how they work together to influence human health and disease. This project centers on the development and application of computational databases, tools and techniques for the study of large quantities of functional genomics data with a focus on the nervous system, building on our experience in meta-analysis of gene expression profiling data. Our first aim focuses on refining and applying methods for computational analysis of gene function in the nervous system, based on gene networks derived from expression profiling and other public data. Our second aim is to study the relationships between phenotypes and gene expression patterns, and applying the approaches to expression changes associated with diseases of the nervous system. Third, we propose to develop new visualization methods for gene networks, and to incorporate data on transcriptional gene regulation including transcription factor binding sites and genetic variation in gene expression. These resources will be designed to interoperate with other neuroinformatics databases, and disseminated through our "Gemma" web-based database system.