Austrian Bioinformatics Workshop 2023: ImmUniverse partner AIT presents method for re-analysing RNA data

During a recent session at the Austrian Bioinformatics Workshop 2023 which took place from 25th-26th of September at the Software Competence Centre Hagenberg, Austria, under the motto "Computational Biology, Artificial Intelligence and Data Science", ImmUniverse partner Dr. Gabriel A. Vignolle from the AIT - Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH discussed ‘Disease specific cellular deconvolution: Re-analysing bulk RNA sequencing data to assess treatment response in Ulcerative Colitis’.

This technique helps researchers analyse complex biological data, like RNA sequencing, from mixed groups of cells. By using data from single-cell RNA sequencing and machine learning, it is possible to investigate the different cell types present in a sample. This method was applied to study ulcerative colitis and the effects of drugs like vedolizumab, infliximab, and adalimumab. These drugs can affect different cell types within a tissue differently. By understanding these differences, scientists can identify potential treatments and predict which patients will benefit from it. This method is not just limited to colitis. It can be used in various ways. For example, it can help identify immune cell types in tumors, discover targets for immunotherapy, and track changes in cell populations to understand disease progression better.

This approach opens up exciting opportunities for ImmUniverse to gain deeper insights from existing data and boost our understanding of immune-related diseases.

Dr. Gabriel A. Vignolle (AIT) presenting at the Austrian Bioinformatics Workshop 2023