"Pluto Bio's platform has been instrumental in our recent publications. The ability to quickly and accurately analyze RNA-seq and ATAC-seq data has accelerated our research on gene expression and chromatin dynamics in retinal development."
- Dr. Issam Al Diri
Challenges
- Managing and analyzing complex multi-omics data was tedious and difficult for wet lab scientists
- Dependency on overburdened bioinformaticians was causing significant project delays
- Figure creation and data visualization was impacting publication timelines and grant success
Solutions
- Lab-wide implementation of Pluto Bio's platform for integrated multi-omics data analysis
- Streamlined data analysis capabilities now allow for quicker turnaround on research needs
- Enhanced figure creation tools within Pluto Bio have reduced reliance on external bioinformaticians and disparate software
Impact
- Significantly improved efficiency in data analysis and figure creation
- Reduced turnaround time from bioinformatic requests, enabling faster research progression
- Enhanced quality of scientific figures, aiding in higher impact publications and successful grant applications
The Challenge
Dr. Issam Al Diri and his team at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine study the transcriptional regulatory networks in retinal development. Historically, the lab faced significant delays due to dependency on external bioinformaticians, whose limited availability was making it difficult to execute projects in a timely fashion. Additionally, the complexity of creating high-quality scientific figures from large -omics data sets posed challenges - it commonly took several rounds of back-and-forth meeting with a bioinformaticist to accurately convey the scientific story needed for a figure. Overall, this was impacting the lab's ability to communicate their findings effectively for high-impact grants and publications.
The Solution
Dr. Issam Al Diri turned to Pluto Bio to address these challenges. By leveraging Pluto Bio’s cloud-based translational discovery platform, the lab was able to immediately streamline their data analysis workflows, reducing dependency on external bioinformaticians. Furthermore, the analysis and integration of multiple data types, including RNA-seq and ATAC-seq, became more manageable, enabling the lab to perform the complex but elegant analyses they desired for publication.
The Results
The implementation of Pluto Bio’s platform in the Al Diri Lab led to significant improvements in efficiency and productivity. The lab can now quickly analyze -omics data and generate publication-ready figures. Pluto Bio’s user-friendly interface and powerful visualization tools have enabled the creation of high-quality figures, which Dr. Al Diri emphasizes are essential for high-impact publications and presentations.
"The ease of use and the range of analyses available on Pluto Bio have made it an invaluable resource for our lab. Our students can upload data, run initial analyses, and come to me with more refined questions, which greatly enhances their learning and our research outcomes."
- Dr. Issam Al Diri
About Al Diri Lab
The Al Diri Lab at the University of Pittsburgh focuses on understanding the transcriptional control of retinal cell fate specification, nuclear architecture, and epigenomic features during retinal development. Their research aims to elucidate the chromatin regulation of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) formation and maintenance, contributing to advancements in treatments for retinal neurodegenerative diseases. Learn more: Al Diri Lab
Key Personnel
- Dr. Issam Al Diri, Assistant Professor, Ophthalmology
- Brendan Nicholson, Research Technician
Announcements
The Al Diri Lab is seeking talented and enthusiastic postdocs and technicians to join our group in investigating exciting questions regarding the roles of epigenetics and 3D nuclear architecture in regulating gene expression during retinal development. Background in developmental neuroscience or related fields is preferred but not required.