David Sims

David Sims is an Associate Professor of Computational Genomics and MRC WIMM Group Leader at the University of Oxford's Medical Sciences Division. His research focuses on computational genomics approaches to study transcriptional programs in brain development and function, leveraging single-cell sequencing and machine learning. Collaborations include work with the Centre for Neural Circuits and Behaviour (CNCB) on fruit fly neuron diversity and with the Pharmacology Department on mouse brain lineage tracing via Lineage-seq. He directs the Oxford Biomedical Data Science Training Programme (OBDS), enhancing genomic data science skills for researchers.

Research interests span computational genomics, neuroscience, and translational bioinformatics, with emphasis on neural circuits, genomic data integration, and disease modeling. Recent work includes developing Panpipes for multiomic analysis and studying inflammatory responses in COVID-19 lungs. His contributions bridge basic and applied research, advancing both methodological tools and biological understanding.

• Key collaborations: CNCB, Colin Ackerman (Pharmacology)
• Notable methods: Lineage-seq, Fly Cell Atlas
• OBDS program: Biomedical data science training initiative

Publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches across genomics, immunology, and neurobiology, emphasizing spatial transcriptomics and disease mechanisms. His work has been validated in clinical contexts, such as radiotranscriptomic signatures for vascular inflammation in COVID-19.

Grant and advisory activities are central to his role, though specific funding details are not detailed here. The Sims Group's lab focuses on computational and experimental systems biology, with ongoing projects on neuronal progenitor dynamics and scalable genomic analysis tools.