Bio Tools: How biomedical tools and methods shape science
Official title: SoS: BIO: Evaluating the Impact of Biomedical Tools and Methods
Funded at Northeastern University · NIH-11387889 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant supports building a data-driven way to track how tools and software used in biomedicine influence science and society.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northeastern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $250,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM158813-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387889 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not a patient-into-trial study; implications are for researchers, clinicians, and research participants who rely on biomedical tools.
✕Less likely to help
Direct patient benefit is not the primary aim, though improved tools could accelerate future treatments.
What this research studies
Researchers will create new databases and metrics to measure the real impact of tools used in biomedical research, from lab techniques to software and modeling methods. They will identify tools from existing knowledge sources and develop indicators that reveal how these tools drive discoveries and benefit people. The project aims to make the use and impact of tools visible beyond traditional publication counts, helping researchers and funders understand what works best. The work involves data collection, algorithm development, and validation using biomedical literature and resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could illuminate which tools most accelerate meaningful biomedical advances and inform better funding and collaboration decisions for patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that tool usage patterns can be mapped and linked to impact, but comprehensive tool-level metrics are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
Northeastern University
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo — Northeastern University
- Study coordinator: Barabasi, Albert-Laszlo
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.