Modeling Access Grants

The Effect of Genetic Variation on the Interaction Between Primate Lentiviruses and Host Proteins

Project Team: Paul Rowley (PI), Jagdish Patel

The interaction of host proteins with lentiviruses and other retroviruses and retrotransposons represents a major research theme of the Rowley lab. The proposed work fits well with the mission of the NIH and is a field of study that has traditionally been well supported. Dr. Rowley is fully committed to providing all the necessary support for the development of the molecular models and the production of supporting experimental data. Investigating the complex interactions that occur between the capsid protein of primate lentiviruses (including HIV) and human proteins, to understand the consequences of host evolution on viral replication. Then to identify key determinants of lentivirus-primate interaction, specifically between the Nup153p capsid-interacting motif and the HIV-1 capsid. Use known crystal structures as templates for modeling the polymorphisms present within Nup153 variants.

Developing Statistical Models and Computer Simulations to Tackle Science’s Reproducibility Crisis

Project Team: Berna Devezer (PI), Erkan Buzbas, Gustavo Nardin

Reproducibility of scientific findings has long been considered a pillar of science. However, in the last decade, many disciplines life sciences have failed to reproduce major research findings. This reproducibility crisis has triggered a shift to revise current research practices. Examples include how to make biomedical findings more reproducible as emphasized in a recent article by NIH directors (Collins and Tabak 2014, Policy: NIH plans to enhance reproducibility, Nature 505, 612–613) and the Cancer Biology Reproducibility Project. Despite these self-correction efforts, little is known about the underpinnings of reproducibility. The goal of this project is to help generate more true research claims than false, by identifying and examining the factors contributing to the non-reproducibility of experimental findings.