GRK 2624:  Biostatistical methods for high-dimensional data in toxicology

• Subject Area: Medicine
• Term: since 2021
• Website: Homepage
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 427806116

The aim of the Research Training Group is the development and application of biostatistical methods for the analysis of high-dimensional data for modelling and risk assessment in toxicology. Doctoral researchers acquire knowledge in toxicology and the ability to develop and apply statistical methods for questions in pharmacological and environmental toxicology. In toxicology, innovative statistical methods are required to optimally exploit the ever-growing, heterogeneous, molecular flood of data for adequate modelling and risk prediction. In addition to conventional one-dimensional dose-response models, models that are more complex need to be developed. High-dimensional omics data are used in modelling both as an interaction factor for toxicological exposure and as a target.The three project areas are regression, prediction, and integration. To model health indicators, modern regression techniques will be developed that analyse the genetic influence on the association between toxicological exposure and health, using methods with high-dimensional predictors for gene-exposure interactions. The estimation of the minimum effective dose of a compound will be specified by selecting and combining genetic markers, using methods from statistical learning. Modelling approaches will be developed for the simultaneous consideration of different doses and exposure times. Suitable data integration through the combination of different molecular data sources and additional biological knowledge will allow more informative toxicological risk predictions and better distinctions of toxicological effects.Doctoral and postdoctoral researchers gain an outstanding qualification profile, based on scientific training in biostatistics, toxicology and statistical analysis of high-dimensional molecular data as well as courses on technical skills and transferable skills. Doctoral researchers are jointly supervised by researchers from statistics and toxicology, and they benefit from the expertise of both and from established cooperations. Scientific interaction and networking will be supported by a regular seminar, including lectures by international visiting researchers, and international visibility will be strengthened through conference participation and workshop organisation.

• DFG Programme: Research Training Groups
• Applicant Institution: Technische Universität Dortmund
• Participating Institution: Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf; Leibniz-Institut für Arbeitsforschung an der TU Dortmund; IUF - Leibniz-Institut für umweltmedizinische Forschung gGmbH
• Spokesperson: Professor Dr. Jörg Rahnenführer
• Participating Researchers: Dr. Cristina Cadenas; Professor Dr. Andreas Groll; Professor Dr. Jan G. Hengstler; Professorin Dr. Katja Ickstadt; Professor Dr. Jean Krutmann; Professorin Dr. Kathrin Möllenhoff, since 10/2022; Privatdozentin Dr. Tamara Schikowski; Professorin Dr. Kirsten Schorning; Professor Dr. Holger Schwender