Who are we?

Creative Data Solutions (CDS) is a Vanderbilt University Shared Resource. Created in August 2015, it provides bioinformatics and informatics services to the research community at Vanderbilt and beyond. Unlike many other cores that offer physical products, assays or equipment time, CDS is 100% service-based. It merges scientific experience with technical known-how to tackle basic research and clinical projects that require skills in data management, processing and analysis.

CDS is housed in the Vanderbilt Center for Stem Cell Biology. Directed by Dr. Mark Magnuson, the VCSCB facilitates studies of the basic biology of stem and progenitor cells through partnerships with the Program in Developmental Biology (PDB) and the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology. Notably, the Vanderbilt Genome Editing Resource (VGER) is also part of the VCSCB, and we enjoy interacting with them!

Contact Us

Our Mission

Our mission is to provide bioinformatics and informatics research services.

Our Vision

Our vision is to have a measurable impact on the ability of research investigators to both publish their work and obtain new funding.

Our Core Values

  • Promote bioinformatics and advanced computation to augment our ability to achieve a solutions-driven approach to life science problems.
  • Maintain a strong informatics skill-set necessary for unraveling and integrating datasets originating from various sources and technologies.
  • Developing visually pleasing and understandable mixed-media and visual solutions, in order to best communicate data and resulting knowledge.

Our Team

Our team is growing and we also have strategic partners within VUIT, VTS and other Vanderbilt resources like ACCRE.

JP Cartailler, Ph.D.

J.P. Cartailler, Ph.D.

Director, CDS

Shristi Shrestha, Ph.D.

Shristi Shrestha, Ph.D.

Bioinformatics Analyst & Staff Scientist

Alexander Lin

Alexander Lin

Undergraduate Student / Computation, DSL, Programming

Nathan Casteel

Nathan Casteel

Linux System Administrator
(Strategic Partner / VUIT)

Faculty Advisory Committee

We are very thankful for our the feedback and support from our faculty committee members.

Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, Ph.D.

Rafael Arrojo e Drigo, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics

2022-current

Kathy Delgiorno, Ph.D.

Kathy Delgiorno, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology

2024-current

Ron Emeson, Ph.D.

Ron Emeson, Ph.D.

Joel G. Hardman Professor
Department of Pharmacology
Associate Director, Vanderbilt Brain Institute

2019-current

Brent Ferrell, M.D.

Brent Ferrell, M.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine

2022-current

Thomas Heiner

Thomas Heiner

Relationship Manager, Customer Engagement
Information Technology | Vanderbilt University

2024-current

Taha Jan, M.D.

Taha Jan, M.D.

Assistant Professor
Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Cell and Developmental Biology

2024-current

Mark Magnuson M.D.

Mark Magnuson M.D.

Louise B. McGavock Professor
Department of Molecular Physiology & Biophysics
Director, Center for Stem Cell Biology

2019-current

Al Powers, M.D.

Al Powers, M.D.

Joe C. Davis Professor
Department of Medicine
Director, Diabetes Research and Training Center

2019-current

Chris Wright, D. Phil.

Chris Wright, D. Phil.

Louise B. McGavock Chair, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology
Chair of Faculty Advisory Committee for Creative Data Solutions (2024-2025)

2024-current

Roy Zent, M.D., Ph.D.

Roy Zent, M.D., Ph.D.

Thomas F. Frist Sr., Professor of Medicine

2023-current

Past Committee Members

  • Vivian Gama, Ph.D. - Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (2019-2021)
  • Kathy Gould, Ph.D. - Department of Cell and Developmental Biology (2019-2023)
  • Jonathan Kropski, M.D. - Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (2023)
  • Ed Levine, Ph.D. - Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences (2019-2021)
  • Ken Lau, Ph.D. - Department of Cell & Developmental Biology (2019-2022)