Research infrastructure and expertise
Our success in research and innovation relies heavily on state-of-the-art computing infrastructure as well as cutting-edge wet lab technologies. We host the VIB Data Core and have our own expertise units: the Machine Learning Unit, the Technology & wet-lab unit, and the Ethics & Data Privacy unit. We are also a power-user of the Flemish Super Computer (VSC).
VIB.AI's expertise units
Machine learning unit
The machine learning unit assists VIB.AI groups with their AI models, focusing on deep representation learning, explainability techniques, model scalability, ML algorithm development, benchmarking, and much more.
Jieyi Xiong is AI Engineer at the ML expertise unit.
Lab in the loop
The synergy between computational-driven research and wet-lab experiments is essential to address complex biological questions systematically. The lab-in-the-loop unit allows us to streamline the process of collecting training data (e.g., single-cell sequencing, spatial omics, proteomics, metabolomics, imaging), and transitioning AI-driven predictions to experimental validation and optimization of the research workflow.
Dan Dascenco & Suresh Poovathingal
Data Engineering & DevOps
This unit works jointly with the VIB Data Core to develop and implement data management strategies including IT middleware for data handling, and ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and ethical principles for sensitive data. The unit provides support for access to the Flemish Supercomputer Center and the Data Core, including support for efficient access to CPU, GPU, and storage.
Kristofer Davie & soon-to-be-recruited IT/data engineer
Single-cell, spatial, microfluidics & bioinformatics expertise
With expertise from Suresh Poovathingal in microfluidics and Kristofer Davie in bioinformatics, we provide advanced support in single-cell technologies, focusing on data analysis and interpretation. Our capabilities span transcriptomics, epigenomics, and proteomics, with a particular emphasis on sequencing data, including spatial and single-cell transcriptomics, to investigate different stages of pathology. These efforts are run in collaboration with the VIB-KU Leuven Center for Brain & Disease Research and are further complemented by the resources available through the VIB Single Cell Core.
VIB Data Core
The Data Core strives to increase the quality, standardization, reproducibility, and efficiency across the data life cycle - from project planning and data acquisition to knowledge generation, and publication and archiving of the research data according to FAIR principles.
Flemish super computer
The Flemish Super Computer is a partnership between the five Flemish universities and their university associations and aims to bring together know-how in scientific and technical computing (including high-performance computing, high-throughput computing, cloud computing, and data processing) in Flanders. It comprises the large Tier1 infrastructure (project-based) and the Tier2 infrastructures at each university. VIB.AI groups all have access to this infrastructure.