Become a pathway analysis expert with these powerful tools you didn’t know about
We’ve all been there. Huddled over a computer, sifting through research data and feeling slightly overwhelmed by the vast capabilities of a software tool. You might find yourself thinking, “Am I really using this to its full potential?”
As researchers, we know how easy it is to end up using only the surface features of a software, overlooking its hidden gems. So, let’s dive deeper into five often overlooked but powerful features of QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA).
1. Explore key molecules that impact a single disease using Machine Learning Disease Pathways
Disease networks are valuable for understanding disease drivers and discovering potential new molecular players. We used machine learning (ML) to mine the QIAGEN Knowledge Base, creating ~1500 disease, phenotype and function pathways all within the Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) software.
With the ML Disease Pathways tool, you’re not just viewing data, but insights derived from sophisticated algorithms. These pathways offer a glance at key molecules influencing specific diseases. Beyond just the known molecular players, there are hidden influencers waiting for you to discover. Venturing into these inferred pathways can lead to groundbreaking findings, potentially revolutionizing disease understanding and treatment.
Sound interesting? Dive deeper into our Machine Learning Disease Pathways tool.
2. Take a closer look at the biological entities in your data with IPA’s Activity Plot
Now, what about the opposite scenario? What if, instead of looking at all of the potential targets for a single disease, you want to see which diseases are impacted by your biological target?
With the Activity Plot feature from QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) you can visualize and explore the activity of a single IPA entity, such as an Upstream Regulator, Causal Network, Canonical Pathway, Disease or Function, across more than 100,000 OmicSoft Land analyses.
Using Activity Plot, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the potential target by exploring its predicted biological activity across thousands of datasets representing disease conditions, treatment conditions, knockouts and much more in our IPA Analysis Match database.
The Activity Plot feature is included with Analysis Match or Match Explorer licenses in IPA. Learn more about Activity Plot.
3. Splice variants and isoforms with IsoProfile
We know transcripts can be elusive. With numerous isoforms in RNA-seq datasets, identifying the significant ones can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Enter IsoProfiler.
Not only does IsoProfiler help you identify these crucial transcripts, it also provides context with fully integrated normal human tissue expression from the GTEx consortium. Whether it’s isoform switching patterns, known diseases or even tissue-specific expressions, the feature offers a comprehensive view. It’s like having a biologically astute detective by your side, guiding you through the maze of possibilities.
Let the IsoProfiler feature of QIAGEN IPA help you identify and prioritize isoforms with interesting biological properties relevant to your research.
4. Create causal hypotheses that explain biological outcomes with Regulator Effects
By this point, you probably know your data inside and out. But data in isolation can often be cryptic, especially when communicating the bigger picture to a broader audience.
The Regulator Effects feature in QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) provides unprecedented big-picture insights into your data. By integrating Upstream Regulator results with Downstream Effects results, Regulator Effects helps you to create causal hypotheses like:
- Biological impact of upstream molecules via genes they regulate
- The mechanism for a phenotype
- Which molecules could be important drug targets
Add depth and direction to your findings with Regulator Effects.
5. Make your IPA networks and pathways more striking with Path Designer
You’ve done the research – now it’s time to publish. First impressions matter, especially in the world of scientific peer review.
Path Designer is your tool to make a stellar first impression while maintaining biological accuracy. Transform the networks and pathways in QIAGEN IPA into publication-quality graphics rich with color, customized text and fonts, biological icons, organelles and custom backgrounds.
Expand and explore pathways using the high-quality content stored in QIAGEN IPA Path Designer.
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Don’t get stuck in your analyses—reach out to us, we’re glad to help
In our pursuit of advancing science and enriching research, we’ve always believed in offering tools that are both sophisticated and user-friendly. With IPA, we have merged advanced analytics with intuitive design, ensuring that as you embark on your discovery journey, you’re never alone.
Ready to unlock your data’s full potential? Dive deeper, explore the uncharted and make each element of your data count. If you feel like you’re on the edge of a breakthrough but need that extra push, reach out. We’re always there to help.
Discover even more valuable IPA features
Ready to dig into other features of QIAGEN IPA that are more than worth your while? Try these out to give impactful context and depth to your biological data analyses.