Data-driven methods to uncover how biomedical processes work in cells
Official title: Data-driven and science-informed methods for the discovery of biomedical mechanisms and processes
Funded at University of Colorado · NIH-11405507 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A data-driven method is being developed to reveal how cellular and disease-related processes move and interact, using real biomedical data to guide discoveries.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 25, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $383,013 |
| NIH project number | 5R35GM149335-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11405507 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Not applicable for this grant as described; this is a methodological study.
✕Less likely to help
No direct patient participation is described in the grant abstract.
What this research studies
This project aims to adapt advanced data-driven discovery techniques so they work well with noisy biomedical data, helping us understand how cells move and how diseases like COVID-19 affect cellular behavior. The team uses a method called WSINDy to learn governing equations from data, allowing rapid generation and pruning of thousands of hypotheses on how cells migrate and how biological processes unfold. The work prioritizes explainability and computational efficiency, so results can be interpreted and validated by scientists. Although the methods are mathematical, the ultimate goal is to translate findings into clearer insights about disease mechanisms and potential intervention points.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could accelerate discovery of cellular mechanisms underlying communicable diseases and inform new therapeutic strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Similar data-driven approaches have shown promise in other fields, but applying them to noisy biomedical data is still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado
Boulder, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bortz, David — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Bortz, David
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Empowering youth to prevent violence in Denver communities
A community-led program in Denver is testing new ways to reduce youth violence by engaging youth, families, and local partners, and by measuring how well these strategies work.
-
Center that enables faster, better population science research at CU Boulder
A PI-led center at the University of Colorado aims to sustain and expand population science research by supporting researchers and infrastructure for five more years.
-
AI-powered system to improve teamwork in cardiac surgery
A research project is testing an AI-driven system that listens to team conversations during heart surgeries to spot teamwork patterns and give real-time feedback to improve patient safety.
-
Hemp-derived CBD for reducing cannabis use in high-THC concentrate users
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial tests whether hemp-derived CBD can help adults who mainly use high-potency cannabis concentrates reduce their cannabis use.
-
Gene-environment factors shaping Alzheimer's risk across life (twin study)
This project studies how modifiable lifestyle and environmental factors, viewed through twin data, influence the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias across different stages of life.
-
CU Boulder Cryo-ET Center: making advanced cellular imaging accessible
A new satellite center at the University of Colorado Boulder will provide cryo-electron tomography services and training to researchers studying cells, organelles, and large molecular machines.
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.