Finding disease-linked cell groups in single-cell data
Characterizing phenotype-associated subpopulations from single-cell sequencing data
['FUNDING_R01'] · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · NIH-11093428
This project builds computer tools to find the small groups of cells that are linked to clinical outcomes like treatment resistance or cancer spread, to help patients whose conditions are studied with single-cell data.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PORTLAND, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11093428 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You may have tissue samples that contain many different cell types, and this project focuses on finding the specific cell subpopulations that matter for disease outcomes. Researchers use single-cell sequencing data together with clinical information like treatment response, stage, or survival to prioritize the cell groups most tied to those outcomes. Their "phenotype-centric" methods are designed to pick out and compare phenotype-enriched subpopulations across samples and conditions rather than treating all cell clusters equally. The team develops computational tools and applies them to data from OHSU and collaborators to make these links clearer for future research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are patients who can share tissue samples or clinical outcome data (for example tumor samples, treatment history, or survival information) for research use.
Not a fit: Patients without available tissue samples or whose conditions are not included in the datasets are unlikely to see direct benefits from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help researchers identify the exact cells driving poor outcomes and point to new, more targeted treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Single-cell sequencing has already revealed disease-associated cell types in many conditions, but applying a phenotype-focused computational method to link those cells directly to clinical outcomes is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
PORTLAND, UNITED STATES
- OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY — PORTLAND, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: XIA, ZHENG — OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: XIA, ZHENG
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 below.