Speaker: Prof Veera Baladandayuthapani, School of Public Health, University of Michigan - Veera Baladandayuthapani - Faculty Profiles - U-M School of Public Health
Abstract: The tumor microenvironment (TME) is increasingly recognized as a critical frontier in cancer research, revealing how the spatial organization and dynamic interactions among diverse cell populations govern immune responses, tumor progression, and therapeutic outcomes. Recent advances in spatial profiling technologies—including spatial multiplex imaging, spatial transcriptomics, and digital pathology—have enabled unprecedented high-resolution characterization of these complex ecosystems. Yet these data introduce significant computational and statistical challenges: intricate spatial dependencies, substantial heterogeneity within and across samples, and non-conformable spaces that complicate integrative, population-level analyses.
I will discuss my perspective on how the conflation of AI techniques and biologically-informed rigorous statistical modeling can address these challenges and unlock actionable biological insights. Specifically, I will discuss frameworks for modeling spatially varying genomic networks and transcriptional programs, approaches for quantifying intercellular interactions within the TME, and strategies for linking spatial features to patient-specific clinical outcomes. The utility and translational potential of these methods will be illustrated through multiple case studies spanning diverse cancer types.
This will be a free hybrid seminar. To register to attend remotely, please click here: https://cam-ac-uk.zoom.us/meeting/register/NdouVOeGT52dO6oIDnzKOw