New statistical methods and software to study microbiome data
Official title: Collaborative Research: DMS/NIGMS 2: New statistical methods, theory, and software for microbiome data
Funded at Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-11401166 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to create user-friendly math tools and software to better analyze microbiome data from human health research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (University Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 5, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $241,130 |
| NIH project number | 5R01GM152812-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11401166 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals whose health may be linked to their microbiome and who participate in studies generating 16S sequencing or metagenomic data.
✕Less likely to help
People not currently involved in microbiome research or whose data are not part of microbiome analyses.
What this research studies
This project develops new statistical methods, theory, and software to study microbiome data generated from 16S sequencing and metagenomics. It addresses challenges like high dimension, sparse data, and complex relationships to give researchers clearer insights into how microbes relate to health and disease. The work helps translate vast microbiome data into reliable patterns that scientists and clinicians can use to understand health outcomes. The focus is on making robust analyses accessible to studies with real people and clinical relevance.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could benefit from more accurate microbiome analyses guiding personalized health decisions.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows that advanced statistical methods can improve interpretation of microbiome data, though this project aims to broaden and validate these approaches across large datasets.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State University, the
University Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Xue, Lingzhou — Pennsylvania State University, the
- Study coordinator: Xue, Lingzhou
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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.