# Quantitative Methods for HIV/AIDS Research

> **NIH NIH R25** · DUKE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $307,056

## Abstract

Quantitative Methods for HIV/AIDS Research
Spurred by recent technological advances, HIV/AIDS research is generating increasingly large and complex
data sets. For example, the data collected in a single vaccine trial might include viral sequence, antibody
binding and functional responses to multiple epitopes, and several flow or mass cytometry panels
characterizing cellular phenotype and antigen-specific binding, activation and function. New genomic
technologies such as Fluidigm or Droplet based single-cell RNA sequencing represent orders of magnitude
increases in data complexity, and will push HIV/AIDS research even further into the realm of big data. Nothing
in the training of the typical HIV/AIDS researcher prepares him or her for data analysis on such a scale.
Given the data complexity, it is inevitable that major HIV/AIDS research projects will evolve to adopt a multi-
disciplinary team science approach. Therefore, there is a need for HIV/AIDS researchers to understand the
data science and statistical analysis challenges associated with large data sets, and for statistical,
computational and mathematical researchers to understand the challenges specific to HIV/AIDS research. This
proposal directly addresses these needs by providing workshops in data science, statistical thinking and multi-
parameter data analysis, catered specifically to HIVAIDS researchers, as well as immersive internships in
leading HIV/AIDS research laboratories for graduate students in statistics, mathematics, computer science and
engineering. Combined, the workshops and internships will build a cadre of HIV/AIDS and quantitative
scientists able to effectively bridge disciplinary communication barriers, and form effective and productive
collaborative partnerships. If successful, this proposal will serve as a model for the training of the next-
generation of inter-disciplinary HIV/AIDS basic and translational science researchers.
The proposal fulfills the Courses for Skills Development requirement by offering three modules of workshops
every year (equivalent to 36 full days per year) covering data science skills, statistical thinking and multi-
parameter data analysis contextualized for HIV/AIDS researchers. The first two modules are targeted at
graduate students, postdocs and new faculty in HIV/AIDS research; the third module is for a mixed audience.
The proposal fulfills the Research Experiences requirement by providing full-time summer internships for
graduate students in the quantitative sciences to conduct research in leading HIV/AIDS laboratories, co-
mentored by an HIV/AIDS researcher and quantitative science faculty member. We propose to have 6 such
projects each year, each training two interns. Finally, the project fulfills the Mentoring Activities requirement,
informally by providing technical expertise, advice and insight from experienced researchers during the
extended workshops and internships; and formally by establishing interdisciplinary collaborations and...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9982767
- **Project number:** 5R25AI140495-03
- **Recipient organization:** DUKE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Cliburn C Chan
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $307,056
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-08-21 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9982767

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9982767, Quantitative Methods for HIV/AIDS Research (5R25AI140495-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9982767. Licensed CC0.

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