NBIA

The software tool "NBIA" (Network-Based Integrative Analysis) introduces a novel meta-analysis framework for integrating high-throughput data in systems biology. Unlike existing approaches, NBIA focuses on effect sizes, capturing real expression changes across independent studies. It employs classical and modern meta-analysis techniques and a network-based analysis to identify consistently impacted genes and networks across multiple studies. The tool's performance is compared to nine existing meta-analysis approaches, showcasing its effectiveness in identifying relevant biological pathways in diseases such as Alzheimer's, acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and influenza. Notably, NBIA consistently outperforms other methods, and its AML signature is validated on an independent patient cohort, revealing distinct survival profiles.