Dr Jarny Choi has developed the Haemosphere web portal which contains information about 20,000 genes.
A new online database, referred to as the ‘Wikipedia’ of the blood cell types, has been developed and launched by researchers at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.
Known as Haemopaedia, the database maps the expression of the body’s 20,000 genes in 54 different blood cell types.
Institute scientist Dr Carolyn de Graaf led a team of researchers who developed Haemopaedia, which is supported by a web portal called Haemosphere.
This new online platform allows users to access, analyse and cross-reference their research data and is freely available to the public as well as the scientific community.
“Our blood cells hold critical clues about our bodies in health and in disease,” Dr de Graaf said.
“This resource will help scientists across the world to discover patterns of gene expression that show how particular cells may be targeted by drugs.”
According to Dr Jarny Choi, who developed Haemosphere, “Having a set of easy-to-use online tools aimed at a diverse range of researchers in the field adds enormous value to the resource.”
This research was supported by program and project grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), an NHMRC Independent Research Institute Infrastructure Support scheme grant, a Victorian Government Operational Infrastructure Scheme grant, a grant from the Science and Industry Endowment Fund and the Cancer Council of Victoria.
The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute is the research powerhouse of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre, an alliance of leading Victorian hospitals and research centres committed to controlling cancer.
Further information:
Ebru Yaman Media and Publications Manager M: 0428 034 089 E: ebru.yaman@wehi.edu.au
