Core C: Data Analytics Core

Project Summary
The Data Analytics Core (Core C) brings together a team of experienced professionals to assist with biostatistics
and bioinformatics methodologies as well as data management for the UT Southwestern Medical Center (UTSW)
Kidney Cancer Program (KCP) SPORE. The Core is directed by Dr. Ahn, who is also the Director of the
Biostatistics Shared Resource of the NCI-designated UTSW Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center (SCCC).
Core C is co-directed by Venkat Malladi, M.S., who is the Director of the UTSW Department of Bioinformatics
Core Facility and supervises genomics analyses (>3,000 WES/RNA-Seq datasets). It is also co-directed by
Alana Christie, M.S., who is the Co-Leader of Biostatistics for the KCP and oversees data management and
Kidney Cancer Explorer (KCE), a pioneering tool that automatically extracts information from the electronic
medical record, self-updates, and links this information to experimental genomics as well as a state-of-the-art
BioBank in OpenSpecimen. During Years 1 – 6, Core members assisted with study design, bioinformatics, data
management, and data analysis for individual Projects, the Career Enhancement Program (CEP) and the
Developmental Research Program (DRP) and jointly published 30 manuscripts including in high-impact journals.
The Core also made significant contributions by developing novel biostatistics and bioinformatics methodologies
with direct impact on SPORE Projects. For the next funding period (Years 7 – 12), the Core will provide state-of-
the-art biostatistics and bioinformatics support as well as database management. Core members will work with
SPORE investigators to ensure that the appropriate statistical design is incorporated into all studies from their
inception, that the data are appropriately linked and validated, and that all results are interpreted on statistical
as well as biological significance. In addition, the Core will expand KCE by increasing functionality and linking it
to external resources/datasets. To support the kidney cancer SPORE, Core C will assist with the following
Specific Aims. Aim 1: To provide strong biostatistical support for experimental design with power calculation,
statistical analysis, and interpretation for all KCP SPORE research activities. Aim 2: To provide strong
bioinformatics support for genomic, metabolomic, and immune repertoire data preprocessing, analysis,
interpretation, and visualization for all KCP SPORE research activities. Aim 3: To maintain and expand upon a
pioneering kidney cancer web-accessible tool clinical data integration with a unique BioBank (including live tumor
samples and a vast number of TGs) and extensive experimental genomics to support SPORE investigators and,
more broadly, the kidney cancer research community. In summary, Core C investigators support the SPORE by
ensuring sound methodology, rigor and reproducibility, tailored new methodologies and providing an ever-
expanding state-of-the-art data management platform linking clinical information, experimental genomics, and
the tissue bank.

Grant Number: 5P50CA196516-09
NIH Institute/Center: NIH
Principal Investigator: CHUL AHN