# Summer Student Research on the Application of Boolean Analysis

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · 2021 · $12,640

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Despite 50 years of extensive investigations to characterize the stem cell population in human colon crypts, we
still do not have a clear definition of cells that maintain the colon crypts. We have a new method that can
predict differentiation hierarchy using unbiased systems biology perspective and mathematical models of large
patient-derived gene expression datasets. We have mathematical models that can predict the terminally
differentiated cells. The mathematical principle we use is based on Boolean implication logic that has not been
commonly applied to study tissue cell populations. The Boolean analysis assigns a parameter (e.g. RNA level
of a gene) with only two values, i.e., high/low , 1/0, or positive/negative. The primary goal of this proposal is to
use Boolean implication relationships to decode the tissue organization of human colon. Based on our
preliminary data the overall hypothesis is that Boolean principles can be used to specifically characterize the
population of cell types in human colon tissue. In this proposal we are training an undergraduate student to
perform data analysis in a research setting. These studies are expected to yield information about cell
differentiation, diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers. Consequently, they have the potential to impact
professional careers of the undergraduate student.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10393237
- **Project number:** 3R01GM138385-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Debashis Sahoo
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $12,640
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-06-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10393237

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10393237, Summer Student Research on the Application of Boolean Analysis (3R01GM138385-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10393237. Licensed CC0.

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