About this Research Topic

Background

Technical systems that can think and learn like a human is the concept of Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI can enable a machine to think, learn and do tasks like visual perception, speech recognition, decision-making, problem-solving, and natural language understanding. AI involves a wide range of techniques and approaches, including machine learning, deep learning, natural language processing, computer vision, and robotics. AI has significant applications across various fields, including healthcare, finance, transportation, education, and many others, and continues to be an active area of research and development.

Machine learning encompasses developing algorithms and statistical models that can learn from a dataset and enables the models to do predictions for unseen cases. The main purposes of machine learning include classifying data, extracting main features, extracting patterns from data, and doing predictions for unknown patterns. It has various applications including image recognition, natural language processing, recommendation systems, and autonomous vehicles.

Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field of science that involves the application of computational methods, statistical techniques, and information technologies to analyze, interpret, and manage biological data. It encompasses the study and integration of biological information, such as genomic sequences, protein structures, and functional annotations, to understand complex biological processes and phenomena. Bioinformatics plays a crucial role in advancing research in various biological disciplines, including genomics, proteomics, evolutionary biology, and systems biology, facilitating the development of novel drugs, personalized medicine, and a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of life.

Computational Medicine, also known as Computational Healthcare or Computational Health Sciences, is an interdisciplinary field that applies computational and analytical methods to enhance medical research, diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare management. In Computational Medicine, researchers and practitioners leverage large-scale biological and clinical datasets, including genomics, proteomics, electronic health records (EHRs), medical imaging, and other patient-related information, to develop computational models, algorithms, and tools. These tools aim to assist in disease prediction, early detection, personalized treatment planning, drug discovery, and patient outcome forecasting. By the power of computational approaches, Computational Medicine seeks to improve medical decision-making, optimize therapeutic strategies, and ultimately advance the understanding and management of various diseases, leading to more effective and personalized healthcare solutions.

AI and specifically its subfield machine learning provide beneficial tools which are increasingly utilized in Bioinformatics and Computational Medicine. They have many applications in respiratory medicine, such as diagnosing and treating lung diseases, evaluating lung images, and predicting outcomes. For example, in lung cancer detection and staging, fibrotic lung disease diagnosis and prognosis, pulmonary function test interpretation and in COPD management: AI can help to monitor COPD patients, predict exacerbations, optimize treatment, and personalize therapy.

They have the potential to transform respiratory pharmacology in the future. Some potential developments include:

• The use of machine learning algorithms to identify common mechanisms and biomarkers of respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
• The development of bioinformatics algorithms to better understand the respiratory microbiome and its role in respiratory diseases.
• The use of machine learning to predict drug-drug interactions and identify potential drug candidates.
• The use of big data and AI modeling to develop new drugs and drug candidates, especially those studies using deep learning and other new techniques.
• The development of personalized medicine using AI and bioinformatics to tailor treatments to individual patients based on their genetic and clinical data.
• AI can be used to predict the structure of infectious proteins and identify drugs that may be effective in targeting these proteins
• Computationally prioritized drugs have been identified using bioinformatics and machine learning to inhibit respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, RSV, and MERS proteins and identify drugs that may be effective in targeting these proteins.

These four interrelated fields have the potential to revolutionize respiratory pharmacology by accelerating the drug discovery and development process, improving personalized pharmacotherapeutic approaches, and enhancing the understanding of disease mechanisms and pathways. However, there are also some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed, such as data quality, validation, ethics, and integration with clinical practice. AI and bioinformatics are not meant to replace human experts, but rather to support them in making better decisions.

This Research Topic aims to provide a platform for cutting-edge research in respiratory disease pharmacology with a computational perspective. We welcome Original Research articles, Review articles, Case Studies, and other scholarly contributions that push the boundaries of knowledge and address critical challenges in the field.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, respiratory pharmacology, pulmonary disease, COPD, lung cancer, asthma, cystic fibrosis, atrial fibrillation, machine learning, computational medicine

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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