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Uma Chandran, MPH, PhD, MSIS
- Research Professor of Biomedical Informatics
Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) | University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Biography
Uma Chandran, PhD, MSIS, is a Research Professor in the Department of Biomedical Informatics at the University of Pittsburgh and serves as Research Associate Professor of Bioinformatics in the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. She also serves as Director of the Genomics Analysis Core and Co-Director of Cancer Bioinformatics Services at Hillman Cancer Center. Dr. Chandran’s work centers on cancer genomics, integrative genomics analysis, bioinformatics pipelines, data coordination for large consortia, and computational support for translational and precision medicine research. Her career spans molecular biology, bioinformatics, pathology informatics, and large-scale genomics data analysis.
Computational & Clinical Expertise
Dr. Chandran’s expertise is in translational bioinformatics, cancer genomics, and genomics data analysis in clinically relevant research settings. She leads and supports bioinformatics analysis for cancer, immunology, pathology, and other biomedical studies, with particular experience in genomic profiling, RNA-seq, single-cell analysis, data coordination, and the development of scalable bioinformatics workflows for collaborative research.
Research Interests
Dr. Chandran’s research focuses on cancer genomics, integrative genomics analysis, and computational methods that support translational and precision medicine research. She develops and applies bioinformatics pipelines, workflow tools, and cloud-enabled approaches for the analysis and visualization of genomics data. Her work also includes data coordination for large multi-institutional consortia and the design of scalable analysis infrastructure for high-throughput genomic studies. In addition, she has a strong interest in bioinformatics education and in collaborative research services that enable investigators to use genomic data effectively. She is also exploring the use of AI in bioinformatics.
Specialties
- Cancer Genomics
- Integrative Genomics Analysis
- Data Coordination Centers and Infrastructure for Genomics
- Genomics Education
- Viral Genomics
- Human Genomics using Genome Aggregation Database
Websites & Links
Awards & Distinctions
- Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Reproductive Physiology, Institutional NRSAUniversity of Pittsburgh Center for Reproductive Physiology1991–1992
- National Research Service Award (NRSA) IF32HD07593-01A1National Institutes of Health1992–1994
- Endocrine Society1996
Representative Publications
Schmitz MJ, Bashar A, Soman V, et al., & Chandran U. (2025). Leveraging diverse genomic data to guide equitable carrier screening: Insights from gnomAD v.4.1.0. American Journal of Human Genetics, 112(1), 181–195.
Jaumotte JD, El Khoury N, Min CK, et al., & Chandran U. (2025). Physiologic and structural characterization of desisobutyryl-ciclesonide, a selective glucocorticoid receptor modulator in newborn rats. PNAS Nexus, 4(1), pgae573.
Louis K, Tabib T, Macedo C, et al., & Chandran U. (2025). High-dimensional profiling of immune responses to kidney transplant reveals heterogeneous T helper 1 and B cell effectors associated with rejection. American Journal of Transplantation, 25(4), 706–719.
Leonard-Murali S, Bhaskarla C, Yadav GS, et al., & Kammula US. (2024). Uveal melanoma immunogenomics predict immunotherapy resistance and susceptibility. Nature Communications, 15(1), 2863.
Schoedel K, Heim T, Duensing A, et al., & Weiss K. (2024). Grade 2, 3 and Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcomas: A Comparative Study of Isocitrate Dehydrogenase-Mutant and Wild-Type Tumors with Implications for Prognosis and Therapy. Cancers, 16(2), 247.
Research Grants
| Grant / Funding Agency | Role | Grant Number | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cancer Center Support Grant NCI | Co-I | 5P30 CA047904-33 | 2025–2027 |
| A Safer Glucocorticoid to Treat Neonatal Lung Injury with Limited Adverse Neurologic Effects NIH | Co-I | R01 HD104215 | 2021–2026 |
| Role of E-cadherin Down-Regulation in Prostatic Inflammation and Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction NIH/NIDDK | Co-I | R01 DK134580-01 | 2022–2027 |
Trainees
| Trainee | Degree Program / Role & Years |
|---|---|
| Gianna Welsh | AIBIDS Summer Program │ 2024 |
| Leon Xu | Summer Data Science Intern │ 2025 |
| Aidan Lakshman | PhD, Graduated 2025 |