Biostatistics Dept. Seminar: Harnessing AI to Decode Cellular Senescence and Human Aging

Biostatistics Department Seminar 

Title: Harnessing Artificial Intelligence to Decode Cellular Senescence and Human Aging

Abstract: Cellular senescence, a state in which cells permanently lose their ability to proliferate, is a hallmark of human aging and is implicated in a wide range of diseases. Despite the promise of senescent cells as therapeutic targets, little is known about their identities, spatial organization, and functional roles in human tissues. As part of the NIH SenNet Consortium, the Duke SenNet Tissue Mapping Center focuses on characterizing cellular senescence in normal human colon and lung. In this talk, I will present a suite of methods we have developed that leverage artificial intelligence and statistical modeling to decode cellular senescence using single-cell RNA-sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, spatial proteomics, and cellular imaging data. By integrating these modalities, we construct comprehensive maps of senescent cells in normal human colon, delineate their molecular and spatial characteristics, and uncover novel associations between senescence and normal human aging.

Speaker

Jason Ji is the Co-Director of Statistical & Computational Immunology and Assistant Professor of Biostatistics & Bioinformatics at the Duke Center for Human Systems Immunology.

Zoom Registration

If you would like to join via Zoom, please register here.

2025-2026 Monday Seminar Series

All seminars are held at 12:05 PM via Zoom and onsite. View all seminar information here.