Capturing and Communicating Diverse Biomedical Hypotheses Through Visualization

This new cross-disciplinary project brings together experts in visualization, communication and neuroscience. The project will establish mechanisms to enhance the communication and understanding of diverse hypotheses among researchers through novel visualization tools. Specifically, trainees in the Iwasa group will work together with researchers in the Shepherd lab to develop a 3D visualization that captures their hypotheses on the role of the Arc protein in neuronal communication and memory. Grounded in this collaboration, the Meyer group will develop mechanisms for capturing, understanding and communicating diverse hypotheses within the 3D visualization from the larger scientific community. The project will result in complementary avenues of impact: new molecular visualizations to support neuroscience research and communication; and new tools to support discourse among scientific colleagues. Through this project we will be meeting the four strategic goals of the U by: (1) bringing together existing, yet distinct areas of excellence at the U in data visualization and molecular animation, (2) providing opportunities for trainees to conduct deeply collaborative, cross-disciplinary research, (3) increasing public engagement and visibility of ongoing neuroscience research at the U through the development of scientifically accurate animations, and (4) establishing the foundation and preliminary results for multiple high-impact proposals that will be submitted to the NIH and NSF.

Current Status

2021-09-14
ABSTRACT:
This cross-disciplinary project brought together experts in visualization, communication and neuroscience. The project established new mechanisms to enhance the communication and understanding of scientific hypotheses through novel visualization tools. Specifically, members of the Iwasa group worked together with researchers in the Shepherd lab to develop a 3Dvisualization that captures their hypotheses of the role of the Arc protein in neuronal communication and memory. Computer scientists in the Meyer group developed technology for capturing, understanding and communicating diverse hypotheses within the 3D visualization from the larger scientific community. The project resulted in complementary avenues of impact: new molecular visualizations to support neuroscience research and communication; and new tools to support discourse among scientific colleagues. Using this 1U4U project as foundational work, we received additional funding from NSF to extend our technology to support capturing and communicating diverse hypotheses about the SARS-CoV-2 life cycle. This project provided opportunities for trainees to conduct deeply collaborative, cross-disciplinary research, and increased public engagement and visibility of ongoing scientific research at the U.