# UCLA Pediatric Research Education Program in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Omics

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES · 2024 · $161,356

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Bioinformatics, computational biology, and omics are important areas that have the potential to uncover new
discoveries in the molecular/cellular mechanisms and gene networks that lead to congenital birth defects,
metabolic and genetic disorders, organ dysfunction, disorders of the immune system, and cancer in Pediatric
patients. The Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA proposes to fill the gap for
much needed specialized education and in-depth training of pediatric graduate medical education (GME) clinical
trainees in biomedical big data analysis, promote the establishment of multidisciplinary networks and
opportunities for collaboration in these specialized areas, and provide a bridge for trainees towards successful
participation as clinicians or clinician-scientists in multi-disciplinary team science towards obtaining future funding
for the discovery and amelioration of childhood disorders (i.e. T32, K23, K12, K08) and academic careers in
diverse research pathways. This program will focus on recruiting pediatric GME trainees from diverse
backgrounds, with an interest in clinician researcher or physician-scientist careers, and who have a desire to
build foundational skills in big data analysis. Specifically, the program will target Pediatric residents in their 2nd
or 3rd year of training and Pediatric subspecialty fellows at the start of their 2nd year of training. The 12-week
program, set to occur at the start of the academic year, will include weekly didactic lectures, taught by UCLA
faculty with expertise in bioinformatics, biostatistics, computational biology, and omics, covering key areas of big
data science and omics, accompanied by workshops linked to the specific topic presented in the didactic lectures,
and interactive journal club sessions. The interactive workshops, conducted by faculty and UCLA Quantitative
and Computational Biosciences Collaboratory postdoctoral PhD fellows, will reinforce concepts from the didactic
lectures through hands-on application of the knowledge via analysis of actual experimental datasets and use of
statistical techniques. The journal club sessions will be in a flipped classroom format and will reinforce concepts
covered in the didactic lectures and workshops to demonstrate the application of bioinformatics and
computational biology technology that lead to new discovery and advancement of Pediatric patient care. The
program will allow for remote access by pediatric trainees beyond the institution through virtual learning (hybrid
format) and availability of educational content online. Key areas of skills building will include next generation
whole genome sequencing, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analysis, single cell RNA sequencing,
DNA methylation analysis, microbiome analysis, and gene network analysis. This program will provide a unique
opportunity for pediatric GME trainees to receive more formal instruction and training in the very importa...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10834963
- **Project number:** 5R25HD109116-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES
- **Principal Investigator:** Sherin U Devaskar
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $161,356
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-01 → 2028-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10834963

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10834963, UCLA Pediatric Research Education Program in Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Omics (5R25HD109116-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10834963. Licensed CC0.

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