Rogel Cancer Center names Baladandayuthapani as associate director for quantitative data sciences

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Baladandayuthapani will facilitate cancer research efforts using biostatistics, bioinformatics, computational biology and other advanced data science approaches

ANN ARBOR, Michigan – The University of Michigan Rogel Cancer has named Veera Baladandayuthapani, Ph.D., as associate director for quantitative data sciences, a role that recognizes the increasing significance of data-driven and data-intense endeavors such as Big Data in cancer research.

Veera Baladandayuthapani, Ph.D.
Credit: Michigan Medicine

Baladandayuthapani is chair and professor of biostatistics at the U-M School of Public Health. He has served since 2020 as the director of Cancer Data Sciences, a Rogel shared resource that assists investigators in all quantitative aspects of cancer research.

“We are thrilled to have Dr. Baladandayuthapani is this role. Biostatistics and bioinformatics are an ever more crucial part of cancer research. Dr. Baladandayuthapani’s expertise and experience in this area will help ensure access to and understanding of leading-edge approaches, initiatives and advancements in data sciences,” said Eric Fearon, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Rogel Cancer Center.

The associate director is a senior leadership role and includes leading cancer center-wide efforts to facilitate access to state-of-the-art quantitative data science methods. Baladandayuthapani will partner with other Rogel leaders to ensure rigorous and reproducible quantitative data science capabilities are aligned with the center’s strategic vision and are adaptable to changing needs and improvements. He will collaborate with university-wide initiatives and provide training and skill-building programs for Rogel faculty, staff and trainees.

Baladandayuthapani joined the U-M faculty in 2018. His research interests are in developing statistical and machine learning methods for large and complex datasets such as high-throughput genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics and proteomics as well as high-resolution cancer imaging. A special focus is on developing spatial and integrative models combining different sources of data for biomarker discovery and clinical prediction to aid precision/translational medicine. He holds or has held multiple principal investigator-level grants from the National Institutes of Health and National Science Foundation to develop innovative and advanced biostatistical and bioinformatics methods and software for big datasets in oncology.

Baladandayuthapani replaces Bhramar Mukherjee, Ph.D., who left the University of Michigan. The appointment is effective Sept. 1.

Grant support: National Cancer Institute P30 CA046592