# Data Sciences Core (Core E)

> **NIH NIH P30** · VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · 2021 · $443,615

## Abstract

Data Sciences Core – PROJECT SUMMARY
The Tennessee Center for AIDS Research (CFAR) is a four-way partnership between a research-intensive
institution (Vanderbilt University Medical Center, VUMC), a historically black medical college (Meharry Medical
College, MMC), an academically-engaged state health department (Tennessee Department of Health, TDH),
and (newly added) a sophisticated community-based organization with an exclusive focus on HIV (Nashville
CARES). Thoughtful study design, data collection, statistical analysis, and tool development are essential to high
quality HIV/AIDS research. The CFAR Data Sciences Core (DSC) has been a critical component of the first cycle
of the CFAR and will continue to pursue its overarching goal of elevating the quality of HIV/AIDS research. The
DSC has provided statistical and informatics support to HIV/AIDS investigators at VUMC, MMC and TDH. The
DSC consults with Development Core Award applicants prior to submission, provides guaranteed
statistical/informatics support for award recipients, and actively collaborates with CFAR investigators at all
participating institutions. The DSC collaborates closely with other cores and develops novel resources, tools,
and methods to enhance HIV/AIDS research at the participating institutions and beyond. The DSC team has
broad HIV research experience, including leadership roles for international HIV research consortia, long-standing
collaborations with HIV investigators, experience handling and analyzing large genomic datasets, and proven
track records of developing novel methods and tools informed by and beneficial to the HIV research community.
The DSC will provide mentorship and training by actively participating in scientific working groups, sponsoring
data science seminars, and providing topic-specific instruction at walk-in clinics. DSC services are expanding to
include database development and analysis support for new partner institution, Nashville CARES, and novel
bioinformatics support for CFAR investigators. The well-attended biostatistics/biomedical informatics walk-in
clinics will expand from 4 clinics per month (2 at VUMC, 1 at MMC, and 1 at TDH) to 6 clinics per month by
adding an additional data-focused clinic at Nashville CARES and a new bioinformatics-focused clinic at VUMC.
The DC, in collaboration with the Laboratory Sciences Core, has also added expertise in high-throughput
bioinformatics, so that CFAR investigators may fully take advantage of state-of-the-art single-cell transcriptomics
and related technologies at Vanderbilt. DSC service offerings are continually informed by user feedback and
CFAR strategic planning initiatives. The DC will support the mission of this CFAR by pursuing three specific
aims: 1) Provide biostatistics, bioinformatics, and research informatics support for the CFAR.; 2) Develop
databases, tools, and methods to advance HIV research in the CFAR and beyond; and 3) Provide data science
training to CFAR investigators

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10153674
- **Project number:** 5P30AI110527-07
- **Recipient organization:** VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** Bryan Earl Shepherd
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $443,615
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2015-04-01 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10153674

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10153674, Data Sciences Core (Core E) (5P30AI110527-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10153674. Licensed CC0.

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