Abstract:
Computational data-centric techniques are transforming life sciences by shifting the focus from data generation to data analysis. Traditionally, wet lab scientists generated data for computational researchers, but the growing availability of public datasets now empowers computational researchers to lead biomedical projects. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have enabled cost-effective characterization of the adaptive immune receptor repertoire (AIRR), providing critical insights into immune responses at the population scale. In-depth assessments of adaptive immune cells enable tracking immune cell development and clonal expansion in disease and therapy. However, analyzing and interpreting T and B cells and their adaptive immune receptor repertoires remains challenging due to the data complexity and underlying biology. This study discusses the development of robust, scalable bioinformatics tools and databases capable of leveraging large omics datasets from individuals of various ancestries, spanning AIRR-Seq, RNA-Seq, and WGS technologies. By applying data science approaches to study human adaptive immune system variation across diverse populations, we aim to improve immunological health studies and reduce health disparities.

Bio:
Dr. Mangul is an Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology at the University of Southern California. He specializes in the design, development, and application of novel data-driven computational approaches to accelerate the diffusion of genomics and biomedical data into translational research and education. Dr. Mangul is a passionate advocate for promoting transparency and reproducibility in data-driven biomedical research, as well as for making bioinformatics education accessible to all. Dr. Mangul’s work is dedicated to advancing the principles of reproducibility, data sharing, and software usability, with the ultimate goal of shaping a more equitable and impactful future for the field of bioinformatics. Dr. Mangul received his Ph.D. in Bioinformatics from Georgia State University, and he holds a B.Sc. in Applied Mathematics from Moldova State University, Chisinau, Moldova. He completed his postdoctoral training in computational genomics with Prof. Eskin at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA). Dr. Mangul is the recipient of the prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER and Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program awards. He serves as a mentor for the NIH AIM-AHEAD Leadership Fellowship and NCATS Training Program in Advanced Data Analysis.