2024 Funded Pilot Projects

PI: Jessica Shiu, MD. PhD
Co-I: Christina Kraus, MD & Qing Nie, PHD

Optimizing Spatial Transcriptomics Assay Selection and Analysis in Inflammatory Skin Disorders
Significant advancements have been made in spatial technologies, which allow the detection of DNA, RNA and proteins within tissue sections but various platforms exist. Given that skin is highly organized and cellular, correct application and interpretation of spatial transcriptomic methods can be challenging, particularly when pertaining to cell types with unique morphology such as melanocytes. The purpose of this study is to compare sequencing-based and imaging-based spatial transcriptomic methods and generate a detailed atlas of cellular interactions in normal and inflammatory skin disorders.

PI: Raj Vyas, MD
Co-I: Aditi Majumder, PHD & Gopi Meenakshisundaram, PhD

Providing Surgical Guidance with Artificial Intelligence
We believe augmented reality (AR) can assist surgical decision-making in the operating room (OR) and that AI can help guide such AR systems by recognizing and marking patient-specific anatomy (both normal and abnormal). The current major barrier to translating AI guidance to patient-specific anatomy (using AR) is that nearly all forms of image-based clinical AI algorithms available today are trained on 2D datasets (ie patient photos, X-rays, CT scans) and therefore provide only 2D guidance in the OR. Our study uses novel approaches in computer vision to convert AI-generated 2D surgical guidance to accurate, patient-specific 3D surgical guidance.

PI: Golnaz Tabibnia, PhD
Co-I: Loryn McGill, M.S.,CCC-SLP. & Alyson Zalta, PhD

A neuroscience-based method for improving patients’ treatment compliance and treatment outcome across mental health disorders
People with mental health problems sometimes find it difficult to stick with their psychotherapy, which can make it tough for them to get better and can slow down research into those therapies. Our ultimate goal is to test whether a neuroscience-education tool can help to improve therapy engagement and therapy outcome by enhancing people’s beliefs in themselves and in the therapy. The purpose of this feasibility study is to gather important data on our team’s ability to recruit, retain, and assess participants in our study paradigm, which will allow us to determine the best approach for a clinical trial.

PI: Ariel Neikrug, PhD & Shlomit Radom-Aizik, PhD
Co-I: Bryce Mander, PhD

Sleep Health and Aerobic Fitness – Lifestyle Determinants of Healthy Growth and Development in Childhood Obesity
Sleep and exercise are fundamental to healthy growth and development but are often compromised in youth with clinical conditions. Conducted at the UCI Research Center for Exercise Medicine and Sleep (RCEMS), this study implements advanced sleep health and aerobic fitness assessments in youth with obesity and seeks to develop innovative methods for analyzing the interactions between sleep and exercise. The ultimate goal is to advance lifestyle medicine to enhance health outcomes in both healthy individuals and those with clinical conditions.