# Systems Biology and Gene Networks

> **NIH NIH P01** · BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL · 2020 · $370,411

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
The primary role of Core A – “Systems Biology and Gene Networks” — is to explore in a predictive fashion the
molecular and network-based similarities and differences between asthma and COPD. Networks provide
frameworks for deriving information from a set of relationships among entities in the program project. We aim
to develop tools to identify the disease modules for asthma and COPD, and the molecular relationships
between them. The work will initially rely on the data already collected by the PPG investigators, leading to a
first round of mechanistic predictions. These predictions will drive the design of subsequent experimental work
and data collection, iteratively improving the Core's predictive power. Core A has two specific aims: Aim 1:
Construct the network infrastructure to predict the disease module relying on data collected by the
PPG Projects and Cores. The goal is to develop and improve on the existing tools to identify the disease
module for asthma and COPD, and to offer an initial set of experimentally testable predictions. Aim 2:
Iteratively enhance the predictive value of the disease module by overlaying data collected by the PPG
Projects and Cores. We plan to explore the network-based relationships between asthma and COPD by
identifying common pathways, genes and potentially common disease mechanisms. Core A will apply network
analysis support at different levels: (1) selection and prioritization of the variants and genes associated with
airflow obstruction from Project 1; (2) integrating different levels of genomics and transcriptomics data
associated with asthma and COPD with the molecular interaction networks (interactome) from Project 2; and
(3) identifying and interpreting epigenetic changes (methylation and miRNA) associated with asthma and
COPD from Project 3 by integration with protein interactome models. The networks of interactions will serve
as a scaffold for information to extract global and local graph theory properties to inform about the initial seed
gene choices and about the different “omics” data in Projects 1, 2 and 3.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982410
- **Project number:** 5P01HL132825-05
- **Recipient organization:** BRIGHAM AND WOMEN'S HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** ALBERT-LASZLO BARABASI
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $370,411
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-01 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982410

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982410, Systems Biology and Gene Networks (5P01HL132825-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982410. Licensed CC0.

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