Tell us a bit about your (scientific) self
I’m purely an experimentalist, carrying out experiments in the lab and then analysing the data. The analysis I wanted to do was for hundreds of high-throughput RNA-sequencing experiments generated in my lab or published elsewhere, so I had to find computational partners for this.
Why did you get involved in the Data Challenge?
Before the challenge I knew what to do to analyse all the data to help us better design therapeutic drugs. But I simply didn’t know how to do it – I needed expert help with the computational heavy lifting.
I was very lucky to have Charlotte Capitanchik involved in the project from the outset. She understands the biology and also the computational side. But without the Data Challenge it would have have taken us months to do meaningful work.
What were you hoping for?
I was hoping for what happened! To find a very talented group of computational people to help me with my research question.
We got a prototype modelling pipeline together in two days. So we now have a program where I can tell it the outcome I’d like, run it and it will say “if you want to do that, based on all the experimental data, you should target that [sequence]”.
Then I can go to the lab and do the experiments and see if the program is right or not. And in the longer term, we’ll be able to refine the model using validated experimental data.
What did you bring to the table?
Knowing what I wanted to achieve. To be honest, during the challenge itself I saw the team typing away … and I couldn’t really help. But there were of course points where my biology expertise was necessary too.
Were there any difficulties or challenges?
I have no idea about the coding or computational side of things, so it could have been difficult to communicate. So I was really glad that Charlotte was there, as she could act as the ‘translator’, as well as helping to design the program and coding. We wouldn’t have progressed so much in the two days without her.
Best thing about the experience?
To see that at the end of the two days that the prototype was working. And it was great to meet so many new people from other labs and hear their ideas. I learned about a different way of thinking about things.
What was the most surprising thing?
Maybe not a surprise … but it confirmed to me the amazing things that you can do if you put the right people together, particularly from different disciplines.
Do you think you’ll work together in the future?
Definitely. We’re moving forward with the project and hoping to refine it. And now I know Anna and the skills she has, I may turn to her in the future for other things.