Dr. Gibas' current funded research is focused on development of automated methods for probe and target selection and microarray data analysis. Her research group is developing analytical methods that will take into account the biophysical properties of molecules involved in the array experiment. This work is significant in that it attempts to connect the real physical behavior of molecules to microarray experiment outcomes, and to eliminate confounding factors based on accurate models of molecular behavior. Microarrays are now so commonly used that providing new methods and standards for their use impacts broadly across many fields of molecular biology research. Long oligonucleotide microarrays, the class of arrays that we are studying, are increasingly commonly used, and yet it is not known whether the parameters used to model hybridization reactions are valid in the microarray context. Complete hybridization of each target molecule to its intended probe is taken for granted, in a milieu where many competing binding scenarios may be equally valid. Dr. Gibas' major funding is from NIH; the project is titled "Biophysical Optimization of Oligonucleotide Microarrays".

Dr. Gibas' other research interests include development of devices for measuring hybridization in real time, comparative genomics, and development of accurate molecular diagnostics.