# Enhance UCSC Xena Browser to Visualize Single Cell Cancer Moonshot data

> **NIH NIH R33** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ · 2021 · $1,454,162

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
New transformative single-cell genomics technologies and spatial multiplex in situ methods provide an
opportunity to interrogate the complexity of the dynamic tumor ecosystem at unprecedented resolution. Our
project aims to make single cell genomics data, such as that from the Cancer Moonshot Initiative, more
explorable and interpretable by the broader cancer research community. We propose to enhance UCSC Xena,
a widely-used cancer genomics data visualization resource, with new, full-featured single cell data
visualizations for investigator-specified, Moonshot-aligned use cases. We will employ User Centered Design
(UCD), a research-backed process and methodology that involves iterative interactions with users and
collaborators, throughout the development of these visualizations. We will work closely with two Cancer
Moonshot projects, following UCD methodologies, to ensure our visualizations and interfaces serve research
needs and are easy to use. In Aim 1 we will collaborate with two cancer research groups to develop novel
visualizations for single cell Cancer Moonshot data. We will collaborate with UCSF-led NCI’s Drug Resistance
and Sensitivity Network to enhance the Xena Browser to elucidate changes in tumors and surrounding
microenvironment in response to therapy, including a visualization to leverage clinical outcomes from bulk
tumor data. We will collaborate with OHSU Human Tumor Atlas Network (HTAN) center to develop multi-modal
visualizations for the HTAN data, including a novel cross-mapping visualization for spatially resolved and
non-spatial data multi-modal data. Aim 2 will develop the software infrastructure needed to support these
accessible, high-performance single-cell data visualizations. This will include performance enhancements for
the Xena Browser, hardening our integration with Jupyter Notebook/RStudio and adding connectors to single
cell data analysis tools, and, finally, incorporating a UCSC-developed Cell State and Microenvironment
signature library into our visualizations. Aim 3 will develop user training and support to promote adoption of
new visualizations and connected analyses, disseminating these new visualizations and analyses to the widest
possible community.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10294472
- **Project number:** 1R33CA263703-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA CRUZ
- **Principal Investigator:** JINGCHUN ZHU
- **Activity code:** R33 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $1,454,162
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-21 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10294472

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10294472, Enhance UCSC Xena Browser to Visualize Single Cell Cancer Moonshot data (1R33CA263703-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10294472. Licensed CC0.

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