# Platform and portal development for accessible, reproducible cancer genomics research

> **NIH NIH R50** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $211,104

## Abstract

Abstract
Ted Liefeld is an accomplished software architect and bioinformatics programmer at UCSD who contributes to
many cancer research activities in the lab of Unit Director Jill Mesirov. Over the past 20 years, he has developed
bioinformatics software tools for reproducible cancer research and open science, as well as numerous cancer
analysis and visualization portals and online resources. He has provided architectural and project leadership on:
(1) GenePattern, a genomic analysis platform enabling access to hundreds of genomic analysis tools for users
at all levels of computational sophistication from nonprogramming investigators to accomplished coding
bioinformatic scientists; (2) Gene Set Enrichment Analysis/Molecular Signatures Database (GSEA/MSigDB),
used for identifying coordinately regulated sets of genes and activated pathways in genomic data; (3) the design
of numerous cancer portals for distributing data from cancer projects including the Cancer Cell Line
Encyclopedia, Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal, Project Achilles Portal, Differentiation Map Portal, and
TCGA Tumorscape.
Mr. Liefeld will use the provided funds for (1) designing and developing new software architectures promoting
interoperability of diverse bioinformatics tools and enabling reproducible research; (2) making advanced,
compute-intensive cancer bioinformatics methods available to researchers in the worldwide oncogenomics
community; (3) developing accessible portals for NCI-funded cancer projects; (4) supporting the cancer research
community through outreach and educational activities and initiatives. Based on his past achievements in cancer
bioinformatics, open science, and reproducible research, we believe Mr. Liefeld will continue to make essential
contributions as an NCI Cancer Research Specialist.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10220906
- **Project number:** 5R50CA243876-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** John Theodore Liefeld
- **Activity code:** R50 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $211,104
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-12 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10220906

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10220906, Platform and portal development for accessible, reproducible cancer genomics research (5R50CA243876-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10220906. Licensed CC0.

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