Chief, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch and Principal Investigator
Deputy Chief, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch and Principal Investigator
Research Summary The Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch carries out basic and applied research dealing with statistical issues of relevance to environmental health. The branch's members develop new methodologies and apply existing techniques in novel ways to address environmental health problems. Members of the branch also advise institute scientists on computational, study design, database and statistical issues via both long-term and short-term collaboration in research projects throughout NIEHS. The branch also offers training at regular intervals.
Research in the Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch focuses on several areas:
Design and analysis of laboratory animal toxicology/carcinogenicity experiments and development of improved statistical methods Application and development of methodology for epidemiological and clinical human studies Application and development of new bioinformatics techniques for harvesting information from high-dimensional genomic, gene expression and proteomic data Development of new design and analysis approaches in statistical genetics Development of broadly applicable statistical approaches
Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch Software
See
Software to access the data or computer instructions developed by members of the NIEHS Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch.
Recent Publications
Angarita-Rodríguez A, Vargas-López V, Pinzón A, Sandoval-Hernandez A, Kang K, Li L, Papin J, Puentes-Rozo P, Aristizábal A, González J. Transcriptome-informed metabolic modeling reveals astrocyte-specific vulnerabilities in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease progression.
Frontiers in bioinformatics .
2026;6:1816121.
[
AbstractAngarita-Rodríguez A, Vargas-López V, Pinzón A, Sandoval-Hernandez A, Kang K, Li L, Papin J, Puentes-Rozo P, Aristizábal A, González J. Transcriptome-informed metabolic modeling reveals astrocyte-specific vulnerabilities in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease progression. Frontiers in bioinformatics. 2026
]
Johnson V, Waidyanatha S, Germolec D, Cora M, Cesta M, Shockley K, Jeffers A, Cimon K, Mutlu E, Cristy T, Pierfellice J, Luster M, Burleson G, Ryan K. Immune system evaluation of Echinacea Purpurea root extract in female Harlan Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats.
Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association .
2026 Jun 16;215:116226.
[
AbstractJohnson V, Waidyanatha S, Germolec D, Cora M, Cesta M, Shockley K, Jeffers A, Cimon K, Mutlu E, Cristy T, Pierfellice J, Luster M, Burleson G, Ryan K. Immune system evaluation of Echinacea Purpurea root extract in female Harlan Sprague Dawley (Hsd:Sprague Dawley SD) rats. Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association. 2026 Jun 16
]
Reinke E, Petersen E, Gordon J, Uhl R, Adams V, Rua D, Johnson V, Burleson G, Strickland J, Gutierrez R, Sprankle C, LaPratt T, Lehmann D, Germolec D, Kleinstreuer N. Validation of the Electrophilic Allergen Screening Assay for Detection of Key Event 1 of the Skin Sensitization Adverse Outcome Pathway.
Toxics .
2026 Jun 11;14(6):.
[
AbstractReinke E, Petersen E, Gordon J, Uhl R, Adams V, Rua D, Johnson V, Burleson G, Strickland J, Gutierrez R, Sprankle C, LaPratt T, Lehmann D, Germolec D, Kleinstreuer N. Validation of the Electrophilic Allergen Screening Assay for Detection of Key Event 1 of the Skin Sensitization Adverse Outcome Pathway. Toxics. 2026 Jun 11
]
Lewis J, MacNell N, Buller I, Larson G, Fargo D, Schmitt C, Kirschner L, Reif D, Akhtari F, Justice C, House J, Messier K, Hall J, Motsinger-Reif A. Revisiting the modifiable areal unit problem in the era of exposome-wide association studies: Assessing the performance of the CDC/ATSDR social vulnerability index at privacy-protecting spatial scales.
Environmental research .
2026 May 30;305(Pt 1):124912.
[
AbstractLewis J, MacNell N, Buller I, Larson G, Fargo D, Schmitt C, Kirschner L, Reif D, Akhtari F, Justice C, House J, Messier K, Hall J, Motsinger-Reif A. Revisiting the modifiable areal unit problem in the era of exposome-wide association studies: Assessing the performance of the CDC/ATSDR social vulnerability index at privacy-protecting spatial scales. Environmental research. 2026 May 30
]
Ping J, Jia G, Cai Q, Guo X, Wang J, Tao R, Li B, Bauer J, Xie Y, Ambs S, Barnard M, Chen Y, Choi J, Gao Y, Garcia-Closas M, Gu J, Hu J, Iwasaki M, John E, Kweon S, Li C, Matsuda K, Matsuo K, Nathanson K, Nemesure B, Olopade O, Pal T, Park S, Park B, Press M, Sanderson M, Sandler D, Yao S, Zheng Y, Ahearn T, Brewster A, Falusi A, Hennis A, Ito H, Kubo M, Lee E, Makumbi T, Mapoko B, Noh D, O'Brien K, Ojengbede O, Olshan A, Park M, Reid S, Yamaji T, Zirpoli G, Butler E, Huang M, Low S, Obafunwa J, Weinberg C, Zhang H, Zhao H, Ambrosone C, Cote M, Huo D, Haiman C, Kang D, Palmer J, Troester M, Shu X, Long J, Zheng W. Multi-ancestry transcriptome-wide association studies uncover insights into breast cancer genetics and biology.
Nature communications .
2026 May 30 [Epub ahead of print].
[
AbstractPing J, Jia G, Cai Q, Guo X, Wang J, Tao R, Li B, Bauer J, Xie Y, Ambs S, Barnard M, Chen Y, Choi J, Gao Y, Garcia-Closas M, Gu J, Hu J, Iwasaki M, John E, Kweon S, Li C, Matsuda K, Matsuo K, Nathanson K, Nemesure B, Olopade O, Pal T, Park S, Park B, Press M, Sanderson M, Sandler D, Yao S, Zheng Y, Ahearn T, Brewster A, Falusi A, Hennis A, Ito H, Kubo M, Lee E, Makumbi T, Mapoko B, Noh D, O'Brien K, Ojengbede O, Olshan A, Park M, Reid S, Yamaji T, Zirpoli G, Butler E, Huang M, Low S, Obafunwa J, Weinberg C, Zhang H, Zhao H, Ambrosone C, Cote M, Huo D, Haiman C, Kang D, Palmer J, Troester M, Shu X, Long J, Zheng W. Multi-ancestry transcriptome-wide association studies uncover insights into breast cancer genetics and biology. Nature communications. 2026 May 30
]
Principal Investigators Applied Statistics
Deputy Chief, Biostatistics & Computational Biology Branch and Principal Investigator
Bioinformatics
Integrative Bioinformatics Support
Director, Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group
Statistical Methods and Applications in Epidemiology
Publications
Recent Publications
Angarita-Rodríguez A, Vargas-López V, Pinzón A, Sandoval-Hernandez A, Kang K, Li L, Papin J, Puentes-Rozo P, Aristizábal A, González J. Transcriptome-informed metabolic modeling reveals astrocyte-specific vulnerabilities in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease progression.
Frontiers in bioinformatics .
2026;6:1816121.
[
AbstractAngarita-Rodríguez A, Vargas-López V, Pinzón A, Sandoval-Hernandez A, Kang K, Li L, Papin J, Puentes-Rozo P, Aristizábal A, González J. Transcriptome-informed metabolic modeling reveals astrocyte-specific vulnerabilities in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease progression. Frontiers in bioinformatics. 2026
]
Wang X, Campbell M, Martos S, Li J, Bell D. Impact of tobacco smoking on estimated telomere shortening and epigenetic age acceleration among human blood immune cell types.
Clinical epigenetics .
2026 Jun 30 [Epub ahead of print].
[
AbstractWang X, Campbell M, Martos S, Li J, Bell D. Impact of tobacco smoking on estimated telomere shortening and epigenetic age acceleration among human blood immune cell types. Clinical epigenetics. 2026 Jun 30
]
Cramer C, Marshall I, Abramson M, Jõgi N, Khomich M, Peddada S, Skottvoll B, Schlünssen V, Bertelsen R. Role of oral bacteria composition and functional gene profiles in respiratory diseases.
BMJ open respiratory research .
2026 Jun 18;13(1):.
[
AbstractCramer C, Marshall I, Abramson M, Jõgi N, Khomich M, Peddada S, Skottvoll B, Schlünssen V, Bertelsen R. Role of oral bacteria composition and functional gene profiles in respiratory diseases. BMJ open respiratory research. 2026 Jun 18
]
Wu Y, Chen Y, Chen C, Yang L, Wang J, Zhang K, Shi W, Meng X, Li Y, Zhang Z, Chen J, Li L, Fu C, Zhou J, Lyu Y, Shi X. [Association between urinary nickel levels and impaired kidney function in older adults aged 65 years and above in 18 longevity areas in China].
Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi .
2026 Jun 10;47(6):1023-1030.
[
AbstractWu Y, Chen Y, Chen C, Yang L, Wang J, Zhang K, Shi W, Meng X, Li Y, Zhang Z, Chen J, Li L, Fu C, Zhou J, Lyu Y, Shi X. [Association between urinary nickel levels and impaired kidney function in older adults aged 65 years and above in 18 longevity areas in China]. Zhonghua liu xing bing xue za zhi = Zhonghua liuxingbingxue zazhi. 2026 Jun 10
]
Ritter J, Stober V, Trempus C, Sakamachi Y, Li J, Scappini E, Birukova A, Elaguech M, Hall A, Tighe R, Wittekindt O, Garantziotis S. Hyaluronan Signaling Ameliorates the Epithelial Injury Response and Barrier Disruption After Ozone Exposure.
Biomolecules .
2026 May 28;16(6):.
[
AbstractRitter J, Stober V, Trempus C, Sakamachi Y, Li J, Scappini E, Birukova A, Elaguech M, Hall A, Tighe R, Wittekindt O, Garantziotis S. Hyaluronan Signaling Ameliorates the Epithelial Injury Response and Barrier Disruption After Ozone Exposure. Biomolecules. 2026 May 28
]
