# Illuminating Neurodevelopment through Integrated Analysis and Vizualization of Multi-Omic Data

> **NIH NIH R24** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2020 · $635,229

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The wealth, depth and quality of multi-omic data generated through funding from the BRAIN
initiative is unprecedented. It ranges from bulk and single cell RNA-seq, to detailed cell type-
specific epigenetic analyses throughout development. However, while the technical aspect of
obtaining the data is largely resolved, generating biological meaningful information from these
multi-faceted datasets remains a great challenge. The long-term goal of our proposal is to
allow molecular and cellular neuroscientists to fully benefit from the ever growing wealth of
multi-omic data by allowing them to perform basic and complex analyses without having to
obtain knowledge in programming. We were recently funded to build a Neuroscience Multi-Omic
Data Archive which will host most of the BRAIN initiative multi-omic data (NeMO Archive;
R24MH114788). Here we propose to construct the NeMO Analytics – a work environment that
will be fully integrated with the NeMO archives. This will be achieved through a three-tier
proposal. First, we will develop the gEAR (gene Expression Analysis Resource - a portal for
RNA-seq visualization) to (a) integrate with NeMO archive and other BRAIN initiative data
archives; (b) present multi-omic data through integration with Epiviz (an interactive multi-omic
genome browser); (c) enable simple and complex cross-dataset analysis; and (d) host the tools
developed as part of the proposal. Second, we will generate and apply tools for quantitative
reconstruction of gene regulatory networks through integrative analysis and visualization tools
and apply them to cortical development. These tools will build on TReNA (a tool for
Transcriptional Regulatory Network Analysis) and projectoR. Additional existing tools will be
linked to the NeMO Analytics to further enhance the work environment. We will apply these
tools to study striatum and inner ear development to serve as real world test cases for using the
system. Third we will disseminate the environment to the broader neuroscience community
through in person and online hackathons. Successful completion of the project will result in new
knowledge, new tools, and most importantly – long-lasting transformative enhancement of the
usability and significance of multi-omic data.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9927668
- **Project number:** 5R24MH114815-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** Ronna Hertzano
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $635,229
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-09-01 → 2023-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9927668

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9927668, Illuminating Neurodevelopment through Integrated Analysis and Vizualization of Multi-Omic Data (5R24MH114815-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9927668. Licensed CC0.

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