PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT – CORE E The scientific theme of the Center for Musculoskeletal Disease Research (CMDR) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is that identification of molecular contributors to musculoskeletal dysfunction and disease will guide development of effective therapies. Three research projects will investigate different conditions involving the musculoskeletal system. Each of these projects will generate large datasets for genome-wide characterization of experimental samples. These datasets will contribute to deep molecular characterization and enable comprehensive monitoring of cellular processes. However, the amount of data generated is vast, its dimensionality is high, and it is typically difficult to handle and analyze. Therefore, effective extraction of meaningful information from these datasets will require personnel with the appropriate expertise, as well as access to the necessary computational facilities. To address these needs, we will maintain the established CMDR Bioinformatics Core (Core E), which assembles the experienced personnel, equipment (high- performance computing server and large-scale data storage facility), and computational algorithms to provide comprehensive computational analysis of large datasets to meet the needs of the Project Leaders and other CMDR members (Aim 1). We will provide comprehensive bioinformatics services to these investigators and develop new services tailored to their evolving specific research project needs via custom bioinformatics analysis pipelines derived from up-to-date computational algorithms and biological knowledge databases (Aim 2). We will also provide training and education related to the use of bioinformatics so that Project Leaders and other users will be better able to understand and use the principles and concepts of bioinformatics methods related to their research (Aim 3). Core E will consist of personnel who have strong bioinformatics skills, appropriate biological knowledge, and experience working with investigators in musculoskeletal biology. The team will provide advanced bioinformatics guidance, systems biology guidance, and in-depth analyses at all stages of genome- wide experiments. Through interaction with Core E personnel, Project Leaders and other CMDR members will acquire bioinformatics skills and expertise that will have long-term benefits for them individually and for the Center as a whole. Core E will enable Project Leaders as well as other CMDR members to rapidly and efficiently integrate the results obtained from the other CMDR cores — the Genetic Models Core; the Histology, Biomechanics, and Human Tissue Core; and the Bone Imaging Core. In turn, bioinformatics analyses will prompt the creation of new genetic models and guide the interpretation of imaging, histological, and biomechanical analyses. Overall, access to the cutting-edge resources of Core E, and the critical mass of investigators that it supports, will greatly streng...