
Caroline C. 2025 | BASIS Independent Silicon Valley
- Project Title: Identification of Potential Biomarkers from Immune Cells in Human Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis through Bioinformatics Analysis
- BASIS Independent Advisor: Dr. Movshovitz
- Internship Location: Remote
- Onsite Mentor: Dr. Qian Wang, Title: Senior Research Scientist; Organization: Stanford University
This research aims to identify potential biomarkers in immune cells associated with the progression of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through bioinformatics analysis. By leveraging bulk RNA sequencing (bulk-seq) data, this study will analyze gene expression profiles to identify key immune-related genes involved in NASH development. Machine learning strategies will be applied to establish diagnostic models, providing novel insights into potential therapeutic targets for NASH-related HCC.
The study will employ bioinformatics techniques, utilizing datasets from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Differentially expressed genes will be identified using statistical analyses in R, followed by functional enrichment analysis to determine key pathways involved in disease progression. Gene interaction networks will be constructed using GeneMANIA to explore interrelated cellular mechanisms. The primary challenge is ensuring data reliability, which will be addressed through careful dataset selection and cross-referencing multiple sources.
The final product of this research will be a comprehensive analysis identifying candidate biomarkers for NASH, contributing to improved diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. These findings may serve as a foundation for future experimental validation and clinical applications in NASH-related liver disease.