Molecular approaches and therapeutic strategies on COVID-19

Namshik Han

My role is to lead the computational biology group at the Milner Therapeutics Institute University of Cambridge. I have responsibility to develop and deliver the Milner’s computational research and AI strategy. I lead implementation of large scale data analysis which will involve collation and analysis of data from a variety of sources including third-party data, in-house data and publicly generated datasets. The main aim of my group at the Milner is to facilitate access of partner organisations to cutting-edge bioinformatics technology and to develop new computational methods fulfilling the global mission of identifying new or better therapies from the analysis of biological data. This will contribute to the inter-disciplinary environment of the Milner, allowing dynamic translation and validation of findings from in silico to in vitro models, and from one therapeutic area to another. The main activity of the group is the development and application of machine learning, statistical and mathematical approaches to pharmacogenomics and drug discovery, strongly focusing on the use of publicly available big data, and utilising experimental data generated on purpose by the Milner Consortium partner organisations. Projects within the group include (1) identification of new therapeutic targets in a variety of diseases, (2) stratification of patients to improve personalised medicine, (3) prediction of efficacy and safety of new and existing drugs and (4) identification of drug positioning/repositioning opportunities.