Interdisciplinarity – a winning concept
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that combines biology, medicine, and computer science to analyze and interpret large volumes of biological data, particularly molecular data such as DNA, RNA, and protein sequences. It contributes to medical research by enhancing our understanding of complex biological processes. Through advanced algorithms and modeling, researchers can interpret large datasets to understand how diseases arise and develop.
Bioinformatics is also used in drug development, helping to identify potential drug candidates and better predict how they interact with biological systems.
The competency in bioinformatics is with the unit Bioinformatics and Data Centre (BDC), a part of Core Facilities where other types of research infrastructures are organized.
Recently, six bioinformaticians from received funding from Wilhelm and Martina Lundgren Science Foundation, which annually awards research grants. Below, four of them share insights into the projects they contribute to and how they support research.
Bart Edelbroek
Bioinformatician and research project coordinator since 2024
Which project will you use the grant for, and for what purpose?
"The project focuses on identifying patterns of RNA modifications in patients with different types of neuroblastoma. We aim to investigate whether high-risk subtypes of neuroblastoma have specific RNA modifications.
We hope that characterizing these modifications will increase our understanding of how these cancers develop, and open up new treatment possibilities. The grant will be used to fund the bioinformatic analyses of the project data.
It would be amazing if our research could benefit many patients, especially children affected by this type of solid tumor".
Paula Di Santo Meztler
Bioinformatician since 2024
Which project will you use the grant for, and for what purpose?
"The project aims to clarify how the Mediterranean diet has protective effects in patients with symptomatic atherosclerosis.
The overall goal is to identify new, diet-based strategies to optimize post-acute coronary syndrome treatment, reduce the risk of recurrent events, and contribute to more personalized patient care.
In this project, I want to help integrate dietary and microbiome-based strategies into standardized cardiovascular care".
I want to continue growing as a bioinformatician and use my skills in meaningful research that contributes to improved health. (Paula Di Santo Meztler)
Björn Andersson
Research supervisor and group leader in statistics since 2019
Which project will you use the grant for, and for what purpose?
"The project aims to identify blood-based biomarkers associated with recurrent stroke, focusing on isoforms of hemostatic proteins.
Protein isoforms are gaining attention for their distinct roles in biological mechanisms and have been linked to various diseases. Our hypothesis is that altered expression of hemostatic protein isoforms may disrupt the balance of the hemostatic system toward thrombosis or bleeding, thereby influencing the risk of ischemic stroke.
Compared to a first stroke, recurrent strokes have higher mortality and a greater risk of causing disability. Our goal is to identify biomarkers that can help healthcare providers detect patients who need more intensive preventive measures to avoid a second stroke or other serious cardiovascular events".
Gwenna Breton
Center coordinator for bioinformatics at Sahlgrenska University Hospital since 2022
Which project will you use the grant for, and for what purpose?
"I work at Sahlgrenska University Hospital as a bioinformatician and section leader of the bioinformatics group. A large part of my role involves facilitating collaboration between clinical operations and university research. Sahlgrenska University Hospital is the largest user of BDC’s bioinformatics services.
I will use the grant for a pilot project in collaboration with researchers from Uppsala University. Our goal is to generate the first de novo genome from a Khoe-San hunter-gatherer individual from Botswana using long read sequencing technology, in order to reconstruct human history. Additionally, we may use the generated de novo genome as a reference for this population.
The project is part of ongoing efforts to generate de novo genomes and build pangenomes, which improves genotyping quality".
Drop-in every Thursday
Researchers are welcome to drop-in sessions every Thursday. The experts from BDC are available for questions from the researchers. The venue is the SciLifeLab office at Medicinaregatan 3. Look for more information on the Staff Portal.
