Portrait of Jun Ding

Jun Ding

Affiliate Member
Assistant professor, McGill University, Department of Medicine
Research Topics
Computational Biology
Medical Machine Learning
Representation Learning
Website
Google Scholar

Biography

Jun Ding is an assistant professor in the Department of Medicine of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at McGill University.

Alongside his team, he is dedicated to employing machine learning techniques to decipher the complex dynamics of cells in various diseases, such as developmental disorders, pulmonary diseases and cancers. The diverse and intricate nature of these conditions necessitates innovative approaches, prompting the use of state-of-the-art single-cell technologies to meticulously profile individual cell states. The result is a rich source of data for our machine learning models.

These technologies present unprecedented opportunities to advance understanding, particularly in fields like developmental and cancer biology. However, the challenge is to develop computational models capable of linking this intricate biomedical data to potential discoveries.

Ding’s primary focus lies in the development and refinement of machine learning methodologies, especially probabilistic graphical models, to effectively analyze, model and visualize both single-cell and bulk omics data, often featuring longitudinal or spatial dimensions. The goal is to harness these advanced machine learning techniques to deepen the comprehension of cellular dynamics, and so develop groundbreaking diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that can significantly benefit public health.

Current Students

Vishvak Raghavan
PhD - McGill University
Principal supervisor :
Yue Li
vishvak.raghavan@mila.quebec
Github

Publications

scHiCyclePred: a deep learning framework for predicting cell cycle phases from single-cell Hi-C data using multi-scale interaction information
Yingfu Wu
Zhenqi Shi
Xiangfei Zhou
Pengyu Zhang
Xiuhui Yang
Jun Ding
Hao Wu
2024-07-30
Communications Biology (published)
doi.org
scCross: a deep generative model for unifying single-cell multi-omics with seamless integration, cross-modal generation, and in silico exploration
Xiuhui Yang
Koren K. Mann
Hao Wu
Jun Ding
Single-cell multi-omics data reveal complex cellular states, providing significant insights into cellular dynamics and disease. Yet, integra… (see more)tion of multi-omics data presents challenges. Some modalities have not reached the robustness or clarity of established transcriptomics. Coupled with data scarcity for less established modalities and integration intricacies, these challenges limit our ability to maximize single-cell omics benefits. We introduce scCross, a tool leveraging variational autoencoders, generative adversarial networks, and the mutual nearest neighbors (MNN) technique for modality alignment. By enabling single-cell cross-modal data generation, multi-omics data simulation, and in silico cellular perturbations, scCross enhances the utility of single-cell multi-omics studies. The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13059-024-03338-z.
2024-07-28
Genome Biology (published)
doi.org
scSemiProfiler: Advancing Large-scale Single-cell Studies through Semi-profiling with Deep Generative Models and Active Learning
Jingtao Wang
Gregory Fonseca
Jun Ding
Single-cell sequencing is a crucial tool for dissecting the cellular intricacies of complex diseases. Its prohibitive cost, however, hampers… (see more) its application in expansive biomedical studies. Traditional cellular deconvolution approaches can infer cell type proportions from more affordable bulk sequencing data, yet they fall short in providing the detailed resolution required for single-cell-level analyses. To overcome this challenge, we introduce “scSemiProfiler”, an innovative computational framework that marries deep generative models with active learning strategies. This method adeptly infers single-cell profiles across large cohorts by fusing bulk sequencing data with targeted single-cell sequencing from a few rigorously chosen representatives. Extensive validation across heterogeneous datasets verifies the precision of our semi-profiling approach, aligning closely with true single-cell profiling data and empowering refined cellular analyses. Originally developed for extensive disease cohorts, “scSemiProfiler” is adaptable for broad applications. It provides a scalable, cost-effective solution for single-cell profiling, facilitating in-depth cellular investigation in various biological domains.
2024-07-15
Nature Communications (published)
doi.org
GFETM: Genome Foundation-based Embedded Topic Model for scATAC-seq Modeling
Yimin Fan
Adrien Osakwe
Shi Han
Yu Li
Jun Ding
Yue Li
Single-cell Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin with sequencing (scATAC-seq) has emerged as a powerful technique for investigating op… (see more)en chromatin landscapes at single-cell resolution. However, analyzing scATAC-seq data remain challenging due to its sparsity and noise. Genome Foundation Models (GFMs), pre-trained on massive DNA sequences, have proven effective at genome analysis. Given that open chromatin regions (OCRs) harbour salient sequence features, we hypothesize that leveraging GFMs’ sequence embeddings can improve the accuracy and generalizability of scATAC-seq modeling. Here, we introduce the Genome Foundation Embedded Topic Model (GFETM), an interpretable deep learning framework that combines GFMs with the Embedded Topic Model (ETM) for scATAC-seq data analysis. By integrating the DNA sequence embeddings extracted by a GFM from OCRs, GFETM demonstrates superior accuracy and generalizability and captures cell-state specific TF activity both with zero-shot inference and attention mechanism analysis. Finally, the topic mixtures inferred by GFETM reveal biologically meaningful epigenomic signatures of kidney diabetes.
2024-05-16
Conference on Research in Computational Molecular Biology (published)
doi.org
RAMEN Unveils Clinical Variable Networks for COVID-19 Severity and Long COVID Using Absorbing Random Walks and Genetic Algorithms
Yiwei Xiong
Jingtao Wang
Xiaoxiao Shang
Tingting Chen
Douglas D. Fraser
Gregory Fonseca
Simon Rousseau
Jun Ding
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered global socioeconomic structures and individual lives. Understanding the disease mechanisms a… (see more)nd facilitating diagnosis requires comprehending the complex interplay among clinical factors like demographics, symptoms, comorbidities, treatments, lab results, complications, and other metrics, and their relation to outcomes such as disease severity and long term outcomes ( e . g ., post-COVID-19 condition/long COVID). Conventional correlational methods struggle with indirect and directional connections among these factors, while standard graphical methods like Bayesian networks are computationally demanding for extensive clinical variables. In response, we introduced RAMEN, a methodology that integrates Genetic Algorithms with random walks for efficient Bayesian network inference, designed to map the intricate relationships among clinical variables. Applying RAMEN to the Biobanque québécoise de la COVID-19 (BQC19) dataset, we identified critical markers for long COVID and varying disease severity. The Bayesian Network, corroborated by existing literature and supported through multi-omics analyses, highlights significant clinical variables linked to COVID-19 outcomes. RAMEN’s ability to accurately map these connections contributes substantially to developing early and effective diagnostics for severe COVID-19 and long COVID.
2024-02-26
bioRxiv (preprint)
doi.org
An enhanced wideband tracking method for characteristic modes
Chao Huang
Chenjiang Guo
Xia Ma
Yi Yuan
Jun Ding
An enhanced wideband tracking method for characteristic modes (CMs) is investigated in this paper. The method consists of three stages, and … (see more)its core tracking stage (CTS) is based on a classical eigenvector correlation-based algorithm. To decrease the tracking time and eliminate the crossing avoidance (CRA), we append a commonly used eigenvalue filter (EF) as the preprocessing stage and a novel postprocessing stage to the CTS. The proposed postprocessing stage can identify all CRA mode pairs by analyzing their trajectory and correlation characteristics. Subsequently, it can predict corresponding CRA frequencies and correct problematic qualities rapidly. Considering potential variations in eigenvector numbers at consecutive frequency samples caused by the EF, a new execution condition for the adaptive frequency adjustment in the CTS is introduced. Finally, CMs of a conductor plate and a fractal structure are investigated to demonstrate the performance of the proposed method, and the obtained results are discussed.
2024-02-11
International journal of microwave and wireless technologies (published)
doi.org
Author Correction: BCG immunization induces CX3CR1hi effector memory T cells to provide cross-protection via IFN-γ-mediated trained immunity.
Kim A. Tran
Erwan Pernet
Mina Sadeghi
Jeffrey Downey
Julia Chronopoulos
Elizabeth Lapshina
Oscar Tsai
Eva Kaufmann
Jun Ding
Maziar Divangahi
2024-01-31
Nature Immunology (published)
doi.org
BCG immunization induces CX3CR1hi effector memory T cells to provide cross-protection via IFN-γ-mediated trained immunity.
Kim A. Tran
Erwan Pernet
Mina Sadeghi
Jeffrey Downey
Julia Chronopoulos
Elizabeth Lapshina
Oscar Tsai
Eva Kaufmann
Jun Ding
Maziar Divangahi
2024-01-14
Nature Immunology (published)
doi.org
Unagi: Deep Generative Model for Deciphering Cellular Dynamics and In-Silico Drug Discovery in Complex Diseases
Jun Ding
Yumin Zheng
Jonas C. Schupp
Taylor S Adams
Geremy Clair
Aurelien Justet
Farida Ahangari
Xiting Yan
Paul Hansen
Marianne Carlon
Emanuela Cortesi
Marie Vermant
Robin Vos
De Sadeleer J Laurens
Ivan O Rosas
Ricardo Pineda
John Sembrat
Melanie Königshoff
John E McDonough
Bart M. Vanaudenaerde … (see 2 more)
Wim A Wuyts
Naftali Kaminski
Human diseases are characterized by intricate cellular dynamics. Single-cell sequencing provides critical insights, yet a persistent gap rem… (see more)ains in computational tools for detailed disease progression analysis and targeted in-silico drug interventions. Here, we introduce UNAGI, a deep generative neural network tailored to analyze time-series single-cell transcriptomic data. This tool captures the complex cellular dynamics underlying disease progression, enhancing drug perturbation modeling and discovery. When applied to a dataset from patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF), UNAGI learns disease-informed cell embeddings that sharpen our understanding of disease progression, leading to the identification of potential therapeutic drug candidates. Validation via proteomics reveals the accuracy of UNAGI’s cellular dynamics analyses, and the use of the Fibrotic Cocktail treated human Precision-cut Lung Slices confirms UNAGI’s predictions that Nifedipine, an antihypertensive drug, may have antifibrotic effects on human tissues. UNAGI’s versatility extends to other diseases, including a COVID dataset, demonstrating adaptability and confirming its broader applicability in decoding complex cellular dynamics beyond IPF, amplifying its utility in the quest for therapeutic solutions across diverse pathological landscapes.
2023-12-17
Research Square (published)
doi.org
scGeneRythm: Using Neural Networks and Fourier Transformation to Cluster Genes by Time-Frequency Patterns in Single-Cell Data
Yiming Jia
Hao Wu
Jun Ding
2023-11-26
bioRxiv (preprint)
doi.org
scSniper: Single-cell Deep Neural Network-based Identification of Prominent Biomarkers
Mingyang Li
Yanshuo Chen
Jun Ding
2023-11-22
bioRxiv (preprint)
doi.org
Unveiling the Impact of Arsenic Toxicity on Immune Cells in Atherosclerotic Plaques: Insights from Single-Cell Multi-Omics Profiling
Kiran Makhani
Xiuhui Yang
France Dierick
Nivetha Subramaniam
Natascha Gagnon
Talin Ebrahimian
Hao Wu
Jun Ding
Koren K. Mann
2023-11-22
bioRxiv (preprint)
doi.org