Zoom: https://illinois.zoom.us/j/82722806480?pwd=yvf5z5FEirtMNS8hWby15xzBFiTBx5.1
Abstract:
The mammalian brain orchestrates complex functions and behaviors through a vast diversity of cell types distributed across its tissue. To fully understand this cellular heterogeneity and its functional implications, we need tools that can integrate, interpret, and reason across large-scale biological data. In this talk, I will present my work on developing multimodal, foundational, and agentic AI models that unlock data-driven insights into the brain. These approaches enable the development of a comprehensive spatial cell atlas, the discovery of molecular brain architectures, the decoding of neural population dynamics, and the automation of experimental design, data analysis and hypothesis generation. I will conclude by outlining a roadmap for bridging molecular and functional understanding of cells across modalities and conditions, with the ultimate goal of uncovering fundamental brain mechanisms and advancing targeted therapies for neurological diseases.
Bio:
Yichun He is a Ph.D. candidate from the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University and the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Her research focuses on understanding cell identities and dynamics over space and time, by developing and applying advanced methods in artificial intelligence, single-cell and spatial multi-omics, and brain-computer interfaces. She also develops biological AI agents to enhance interpretability and accelerate scientific discovery. Her work has been featured as a cover story in Nature and published in Cell, Nature Communications (including one as Editor's Highlight), and Nature Methods.
Faculty Host: Ge Liu/Arindam Banerjee
Meeting ID: 827 2280 6480
Password: csillinois