UPDATE: This project is now filled.
microRNAs are known to regulate the expression level of a large number of mRNA targets, which can be predicted with reasonable accuracy using bioinformatics. When the activity of a microRNA is perturbed it results in changed expression levels of its targets. Such expression level changes can be detected using global mRNA expression data (e.g from microarrays) and is known as a miR-signature. miR-signatures constitute an indirect, but functional measure of changed microRNA activity and thereby provides an alternative to direct profiling of microRNA expression levels. Array Express and Gene Expression Omnibus are large public databases containing a wealth of mRNA expression changes in wide variety of states, including disease states.
The objective of this project is to mine the public expression database to look for miRsignatures pinpointing abnormal microRNA activities linked to diseases. Such findings might suggest new therapeutic targets for LNA-antimiR therapy.This project will be part of the Cardiomir EU collaboration that Santaris is part of. While the method to be developed and applied is general, it will be focused on cardiometabolic disease for which there is an opportunity to do experimental followup-studies within the context of the Cardiomir project.
Requirements
- Experience with analysis of many large data sets is an advantage.
- A high level in R or a similar language is important.
For information about how to apply see this post. Discuss or ask questions about the project in the comments.