Bioinformatics Core

virtual dna strand

Bioinformatics analysis to support research activities.

The Bioinformatics Core helps researchers identify and interpret patterns in RNA and DNA by placing sequencing data into a biologically meaningful context. This encompasses assisting with experimental design, developing reproducible workflows, analyzing next-generation sequencing data, and supporting manuscript development/publication.

“We are thrilled with the services provided to our team by the BRCF Bioinformatics Core, the services provide enabled us to publish top tier papers and be awarded multiple NIH funded grants. We are very grateful to have this Core available to us on campus!”

Dr. Maria Castro and Dr. Pedro Lowenstein

How We Can Help You

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Consultations

We offer an initial, free pre-analysis consultation to discuss the types of analysis and support bioinformatics can provide, in addition to assisting with experimental design to best answer the biological question(s) of interest.

Learn More
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Data Analysis

Offering a variety of analyses

Learn More About Data Analysis
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Workshops & Training

Hosting regular virtual, hands-on workshops

Learn More About Workshops & Training

“I’ve greatly enjoyed my experience working with the Bioinformatics Core. Chris and his team were instrumental in establishing a workflow for the measurement of allele-specific expression using data from targeted RNA-seq and DNA-seq. Their services were timely and helped us to publish and secure continued funding.”

Prof. Beverly Strassmann

Facilities & Resources

The BRCF Bioinformatics Core employs three full-time bioinformaticians. This core helps researchers identify and interpret patterns in RNA, DNA, and proteins by placing sequencing or mass spectrometry data into a biologically meaningful context. Support offered includes assisting with experimental design, training in analysis execution, developing reproducible workflows, analyzing data, and supporting manuscript development/publication.

Meet the Team


Nick Carruthers

Nick Carruthers, M.S., Ph.D.

Bioinformatics Analyst

Dr. Nick Carruthers specializes in statistical and functional analysis of RNASeq and Proteomics data. He is interested in data sharing and reproducible analysis pipelines. Prior to working at the University of Michigan, he was a bioinformatician at the Wayne State University Proteomics Facility. He received his Ph.D. in Toxicology and M.S. in Data Science from Wayne State University and B.Sc. in Biology from the University of Waterloo. His free time is spent with his family or on the golf course.

portrait of RAYMOND CAVALCANTE

Raymond Cavalcante, Ph.D.

Bioinformatics Analyst

Dr. Cavalcante consults with clients to understand their bioinformatics needs and develop suitable analysis plans. He develops modular, scalable, and reproducible analysis pipelines for epigenomics assays (ChIP-seq, WGBS, ERRBS, ATAC-seq, and the EPIC methylation array). Dr. Cavalcante received his Ph.D. in Bioinformatics at the University of Michigan in August 2017, where he focused on building computational tools to help interpret and give context to epigenomics and metabolomics data. He completed his undergraduate work in Mathematics from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and an M.A. in Mathematics from San Francisco State University. When not working, he likes to escape to the Upper Peninsula as much as possible to ski and cook in the winter, or hike and pick berries in the summer.

portrait of WEISHENG WU

Weisheng Wu, Ph.D.

Bioinformatics Analyst

Weisheng Wu received his Ph.D. in Integrative Biosciences and Graduate Minor degree in Statistics from Pennsylvania State University in 2011. His Ph.D. and postdoctoral research in Dr. Ross Hardison’s lab in the Center for Comparative Genomics and Bioinformatics at Penn State has given him versatile experiences of generation and analysis of genome-scale high-throughput sequencing data in a mouse model. Dr. Wu’s research has been focusing on elucidating the dynamics of genome-scale epigenetic landscapes in hematopoiesis through next-generation sequencing technology. He has made interesting discoveries about the roles of histone modifications associated with transcription factor binding and gene regulation during erythroid differentiation. Dr. Wu is also making active contributions to both Human ENCODE and Mouse ENCODE projects.

Questions?

Contact Us

North Campus Research Complex (NCRC), Building 22
2800 Plymouth Road
Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2800

About Us

The Bioinformatics Core is one of the Biomedical Research Core Facilities, and a part of the Medical School Office of Research, where our mission is to foster an environment of innovation and efficiency that serves the Michigan Medicine research community and supports biomedical science from insight to impact.

Upcoming Research Events

All Office of Research Events

The Funding Forum

Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
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Researchpalooza

Join exhibitors from labs and offices of the Medical School and across campus for this annual event showcasing the services provided to research faculty, staff, and students.
people at Researchpalooza event outdoors

The Funding Forum

Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
A person sits at a laptop at BSRB.

Best Practices for Preparing Large Team Grant Proposals

The Large Team Grant Core hosts a virtual seminar addressing best practices for submitting complex, interdisciplinary grant proposals.
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Dean's Lecture Symposium

The Dean's Lecture Symposium will offer a day of panel sessions, a poster session, and keynote speaker Sean Morrison from UT-Southwestern.
stem cells

The Funding Forum

Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
A person sits at a laptop at BSRB.

Write Winning NIH R01 Grant Proposals

This full-day workshop is an annual event for R01 Boot Camp participants, and will be open again this year to U-M faculty members, postdoctoral researchers and administrative staff interested in gaining a competitive edge in grantsmanship.
Faculty and Dr. Robertson in the auditorium at Palmer Commons

The Funding Forum

Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
A person sits at a laptop at BSRB.

The Funding Forum

Join the Grant Services and Analysis Research Development (RD) team on Zoom every third Thursday at 2:00 pm for the Funding Forum – a 60-minute session designed to help UMMS faculty gain an advantage in grant seeking and proposal development.
Event runs May 21, 2026 - December 17, 2026
A person sits at a laptop at BSRB.

Featured Research News

All Office of Research News
Image of an investigator at a meeting with two other people. Investigator is on their computer as the other two people are looking at documents. It only shows individuals from the neck down.
Office of Research

Upcoming Changes to Clinical Research Billing Coverage Analysis Process

To align Michigan Medicine with current best practices, a new process will be implemented to support robust clinical research billing coverage analysis. Starting this September, coverage analysis will be created centrally for all new clinical trials with billable items and services and will include citations of national and local care determinations.
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Office of Research

New Research Team Collaboration Agreement Template

The Office of Regulatory Affairs has developed a Research Team Collaboration Agreement, a template to help teams establish and maintain clear communication through the project lifecycle.
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Office of Research

New Requirement for Dual Appointment VA Faculty Serving as PIs on U-M Sponsored Projects

Veterans Administration (VA) and University of Michigan dual-appointed faculty proposing research through U-M often plan to use resources (space, staff, subject pools, equipment, etc) at the VA. In these circumstances, the national VA requires that a Federal Conflict of Interest (FCOI) waiver be received BEFORE the application is submitted (18 U.S.C. §208). To support the VA in achieving compliance, Michigan Medicine is implementing a review of disclosure prior to U-M submission. Beginning July 1, 2026, all VA–U-M dual-appointed faculty serving as a PI and using resources that require VA regulatory approval must obtain an FCOI waiver through the VA before submitting the grant through U-M.