Grant: Project Grant

We propose to build on our past contributions to analyses of large quantities of publicly-available brain genomics data, with a focus on single-cell transcriptomes and identifying signals of gene regulation in the brain. First, we will continue to maintain and expand our open database and software suite, Gemma (gemma.msl.ubc.ca), which currently contains over 22,000 data sets for mouse, human and rat. We will refine and greatly expand our holdings of single-cell data from the brain and of transcriptional regulator perturbation studies. Building on recent work, and integrating additional data types, we will then use these data to conduct large scale analyses of patterns of differential expression, coexpression and DNA binding with the aim of prioritizing direct targets of transcriptional regulators, focusing on neural development and microglial function. Our project will contribute to the ability of researchers to re-use and interpret transcriptome and other genomics data, as well as detailed information on evidence supporting regulatory actions of genes important for brain development and health.