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Blogs

Department of Biomedical Informatics News and Stories

Research

Research    Data analysis

Why Share Data? Scientific Discovery Thrives on Collaboration

Programming can be a language of its own.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date March 26, 2024
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Research    Education    Awards    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

New Grant Funds Summer Institute for Junior Investigators to Focus on AI, Omics, and Ethics

Faculty members from the University of Colorado Department of Biomedical Informatics and Department of Medicine have received a $1.8 million, five-year grant from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) to offer summer institutes focused on the ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in data sciences and omics of cardiovascular and lung diseases.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date March 19, 2024
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Research    Awards    Data and Health

CU Data Researchers Awarded Grant to Improve NIH Data Ecosystem

Biomedical informatics researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have received a five-year grant totaling $9.5 million from the Office of the Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advance the Common Fund Data Ecosystem (CFDE), which was created to revolutionize data sharing, integration, and innovation across research communities.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date March 14, 2024
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Research    Diabetes    Data analysis

Can a Mother’s Type 1 Diabetes Reduce a Baby’s Chance of Developing the Condition?

Epidemiologist and researcher Randi K. Johnson, PhD, MPH, assistant professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, is diving into how maternal pregnancy factors impact the offspring’s risk of developing type 1 diabetes (T1D) with the assistance of a $500,000 grant from JDRF Australia. The grant is supported by funding from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust to JDRF Australia.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date February 12, 2024
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Research    DNA    Genetics

Archaic Human DNA Analysis Points to Modern Day Drug Metabolism

Studying the DNA of Neanderthals and Denisovans, two archaic species that lived 100,000 to 30,000 years ago, is helping genomics researchers at the University of Colorado School of Medicine develop a deeper understanding of pharmacogenes, which can explain how and why modern humans process substances like food, pollutants, and medications.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date January 23, 2024
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Research    Mental Health    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

What’s the Future of AI in Mental Health Care?

The human brain contains a lot of data.

“You often hear people say you only use 5 to 10% of the brain, but it’s not true,” says Joel Stoddard, MD, MAS, associate professor of psychiatry and secondary faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date January 16, 2024
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Research    Faculty

Harriet Dashnow, PhD, Joins DBMI Faculty to Research Rare Disease

This summer, Harriet Dashnow, PhD, will join the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. In her new role as assistant professor, she’ll focus on computational method research, rare disease, and establish her own lab. 


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date January 09, 2024
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Research    Education    Community

CU Department of Biomedical Informatics Top Stories of 2023

This year marked the one-year anniversary of the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and along with that celebration came many more, ranging from crucial research to exciting new grant announcements.

As 2023 comes to an end, join the communications staff in revisiting some of the most important stories from the year and looking to what’s next for DBMI faculty and researchers.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date December 15, 2023
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Research    Skin Cancer    Cancer

How a Cell Meant to Fight Skin Cancer Might Actually Be Protecting It

Approximately 1,300 new cases of melanoma are detected in Colorado alone each year, and while immunotherapies have revolutionized treatment for skin cancer, nearly half of patients do not respond to them.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date December 05, 2023
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Research    Drug Development    Microbiology

What is Cell Painting?

Computational cell biologist Michael Lippincott, a PhD student in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, spends his days studying cells, how they approach death, and then how they die.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date November 08, 2023
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Research    Awards

CU Data Scientists Awarded Grants to Further Orthopedics Research

Four research projects with a combined orthopedic and biomedical informatics focus have been awarded grant funds totaling $200,000 in the newly formed Dyads Pilot Award competition.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date October 26, 2023
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Research    Diabetes

Building the Framework for Precision Medicine in Diabetes Prevention and Care

A newly-released consensus report authored by more than 200 academic experts from around the world, including three health researchers from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, points to exciting opportunities in precision medicine in diabetes prevention and care.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date October 05, 2023
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Research    Data analysis

How Software Gardening Can Benefit Researchers

While software development has long been compared to the craft of carpentry due to the need for a sturdy foundation and clear instructions, many in the field say garden analogies offer a way to address gaps and enhance practices.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date September 28, 2023
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Research    DNA    Genetics

Why Do Zebrafish Make Model Organisms in Scientific Research?

At first glance, there don’t seem to be many similarities between humans and zebrafish, but the small freshwater minnows native to southeastern Asia have quickly become a favorite model organism in scientific research, allowing researchers to study human health, rare diseases, and treatment options.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date September 26, 2023
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Research    Awareness    Climate Science

Summer Heat Gives Rise to Algal Blooms and Health Concerns

Hot summer days and a large body of water might sound like a recipe for relief when temperatures soar, but the same conditions can make lakes, ponds, and inland swim beaches the ideal place for harmful algal bloom (HAB) events to flourish.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date August 21, 2023
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Research    Data analysis

CU Data Researchers Connect Diet to Changes in the Microbiome

“Should I be taking a probiotic?” is a question that Maggie Stanislawski, PhD, assistant professor in the University of Colorado Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI), gets asked often.  


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date August 17, 2023
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Research    Advancement    Data analysis

Altitude Research Reaches New Heights

Anybody who has ever experienced altitude sickness, even the mildest form known as acute mountain sickness, knows how debilitating it can be. Symptoms, which include lightheadedness, nausea, fatigue, and headache, most often occur at altitudes above 8,000 feet.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date July 25, 2023
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Research    Genetics

How Trustworthy is Your Dog’s DNA Test?

Lila is a registered purebred beagle, but depending on what company does her DNA testing, she might be part rottweiler, part American foxhound, or not a beagle at all.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date July 18, 2023
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Research    Rheumatoid Arthritis    Data analysis

CU Data Scientist Receives Funds to Study Precision Medicine for Rheumatoid Arthritis

With no cure or widely successful therapeutic options for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Fan Zhang, PhD, is looking to computational machine learning to identify new target treatments.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date July 12, 2023
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Research    Advancement    Genetics

A Taste of the Future: CU Researcher Links Genetics with Dietary Intake

For geneticist Joanne Cole, PhD, food is life. Her love goes beyond trying a new recipe and seeking out new restaurants it’s also in her work in the University of Colorado Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI), identifying the connection between genetics and nutrition.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date July 09, 2023
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Research    Clinical Informatics

Leveraging Patient Identity Management Systems to Improve Global Health

Being able to follow a patient’s progression through a health system is an important factor for care in any nation, but it can be more difficult in developing countries that face greater technological and data-related challenges.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date June 05, 2023
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Research    Diversity    Genetics

CU Researchers Weave Deeper Understanding of Diverse Ancestry and Gene Expression

Exploring diverse ancestry is a critical factor in furthering medical research.  

A new study published in Nature Genetics from researchers in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, in partnership with the University of California San Francisco and Stanford University, is the largest of its kind that focuses on ancestry correlations with biomedical traits and the first study to examine the role of genetic variants across diverse ancestries in regulating gene expression.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date May 25, 2023
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Research    rare disease

CU Data Scientists Develop Rare Disease Phenopacket Standard, Tools For Global Use

Researchers in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine have reached a major milestone in developing standards and tools for creating phenopackets that may foster more innovation and advancement in the medical field by allowing health professionals to more easily collect and share data.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date May 17, 2023
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Research    Equity Diversity and Inclusion    Data analysis

Researchers Amplify Diverse Sourcing in Science Journalism

Following an analysis of more than 20,000 articles by researchers in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, a major science publication is implementing new policies to improve the diversity of its sources.


Author Kara Mason | Publish Date April 05, 2023
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Research    Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI-Assisted Authoring Tool Offers Timesaving and Transparency

As the world explores the new possibilities and uses of artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, researchers at the University of Colorado Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) are integrating similar models into academic authoring.


Author Rachel Wittel | Publish Date February 22, 2023
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Research    Health equity    Clinical Informatics    Clinical decision support (CDS)

AI-Powered Tool Uses Hospital Nursing Notes to Save Lives

For years, David Albers, PhD, associate professor of biomedical informatics at University of Colorado School of Medicine, has been haunted by a friend’s death. It was long before Albers contemplated a career in health care, when he was an undergrad studying physics and taking music lessons in his spare time from accomplished jazz musician Tony Williams.


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date January 31, 2023
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Research    Students    Obesity

Gene Expression Study Reveals New Molecular Associations with Obesity

New research from the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine has identified 45 genes whose gene expression is associated with body mass index (BMI), many of which have not been explored in obesity research before, after conducting a study using a multiethnic cohort.


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date January 18, 2023
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Research    Community    COVID-19

How CU Data Scientists Are Debunking COVID-19 Misinformation

Researchers in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) at the University of Colorado School of Medicine spearheaded an innovative method to synthesize and compile accurate information about COVID-19 since the onset of the global pandemic in 2020.


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date January 12, 2023
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Research    Blood    Child & Adolescent    Student and Alumni    ColoradoSPH at CU Anschutz   

New Tool Provides Global Standard for Pediatric Blood Pressure Assessment

Using data from studies published in the medical literature over a 40-year time span, Peter DeWitt, PhD, a University of Colorado School of Medicine data scientist in the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI), has developed an automated algorithm to address gaps in children’s blood pressure percentiles, providing a way to directly compare blood pressure measurements for children of the same age, sex, and height.


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date December 12, 2022
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Research    Innovation    Faculty    Medical imaging

Novel Technology Designed to Increase MRI Speeds

Nicholas Dwork, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has filed a provisional patent for a technology that could increase scan speeds of three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The invention could lead to faster results, increase the clinical applications of MRIs, and ultimately improve patient care.


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date December 05, 2022
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Research    Awards

CU Faculty Awarded $1.05 Million to Identify Family Relationships Using Electronic Health Data

Toan Ong, PhD, associate professor of biomedical informatics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, has been approved for a $1.05 million funding award from the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) for a project that will improve methods of conducting research using electronic health records (EHRs).


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date November 28, 2022
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Research    Community    Equity Diversity and Inclusion

CU Professor Draws on Indigenous Roots in Approach to Research and Mentoring

From the University of Colorado Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) offices on the top floor of the Anschutz Health Sciences Building, one sees sweeping views of Denver and the Rocky Mountains. DBMI Assistant Professor Katrina Claw, PhD, sees the lands that Native American tribes have called their home.


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date November 21, 2022
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Research    COVID-19    Faculty    Public Health

How a COVID-19 Mortality Prediction Model Created by CU Data Scientists Could Provide Insights for the Next Pandemic

Overflowing intensive care units. A shortage of personal protective equipment. A scramble for hospital beds and ventilators. Health care workers pushed to the brink. The COVID-19 pandemic laid bare many well-documented vulnerabilities of health care systems. The need for accurate and early clinical assessment of severity related to COVID-19 was vital to developing crisis standards of care to meet the growing pandemic. These standards of care are informed by mortality prediction models, which assess the risk of imminent death in patients.


Author Toni Lapp | Publish Date September 22, 2022
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Research    Press Releases    Education    Clinical Research    CU Medicine Today   

Department of Biomedical Informatics Launches to Advance Patient Care Using Data-Driven Discovery

Connecting basic science and medicine with clinical and translational scientists, the University of Colorado School of Medicine is introducing the Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) to enhance clinical care through integrated computational technology, laboratory investigations, and artificial intelligence (AI).


Author Rachel Wittel | Publish Date July 06, 2022
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Department of Biomedical Informatics In the News

Earth.com

Uncovering the truth: The reality behind canine DNA testing

news outletEarth.com
Publish DateMarch 15, 2024

In the world of pet care, DNA tests are increasingly used to trace our pets’ ancestry. However, a University of Colorado study led by DBMI founding chair Casey Greene, PhD, and Halie Rando, PhD, has revealed significant inaccuracies in canine DNA testing. This raises concerns among dog owners about the reliability of these tests.

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Nature

11 reasons why we’ve stayed in academia

news outletNature
Publish DateMarch 12, 2024

Katrina Claw, PhD, assistant professor of biomedical informatics, is one of 11 researchers in a career feature in Nature on March 12 explaining what motivates their academic lives. “My dad was a heavy-equipment operator for more than 40 years, and in our tribe’s traditional ceremonies, he always prayed for me to have a job in which I would stay clean all day and have an office,” Katrina says. “I not only have an office with views of the Rocky Mountains, I also have a laboratory full of pristine equipment and lead a successful research programme that trains students and collaborates with Native American communities on pharmacogenomics and the cultural, ethical, legal and social implications of genomics research.”

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The United Business Journal

Unraveling the Canine Genetic Code Navigating the Landscape of Dog DNA Testing

news outletThe United Business Journal
Publish DateMarch 11, 2024

A recent study conducted by researchers at the Department of Biomedical Informatics DBMI at the University of Colorado School of Medicine delved into the intricacies of DTC dog DNA testing, shedding light on the complexities and challenges inherent in deciphering the genetic code of man’s best friend.

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Regenstrief Institute

Latest booster reduces adults’ risk of moderate or severe COVID by more than half

news outletRegenstrief Institute
Publish DateMarch 03, 2024

Researchers across the nation, including DBMI faculty member Toan Ong, PhD, find that the most recent COVID-19 booster shot reduces adults’ risk of moderate or severe COVID by more than half. The conclusion comes from a nationwide data study from September 2023 through January 2024, a period of JN.1 variant dominance.

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