Graph Lens Lite: A browser-based tool for interactive visualization and exploration of biological networks

Abstract

Biological network visualization together with graph-based analyses are key techniques in systems biology and network medicine to detect patterns and generate hypotheses regarding disease pathobiology, drug target identification, biomarker prioritization, and digital drug discovery. Network representations provide an intuitive way to communicate and share research findings. We have developed Graph Lens Lite, a browser-based tool that combines rich visualization with a streamlined interface for exploring and sharing biological networks. It offers an expressive query language, topological network analysis, interactive filtering, visual grouping, customizable layouts, a data editor, fine-grained property-based styling, animated edge-flow visualization, community detection, and a context-aware locally powered AI assistant particularly suited for exploring molecular models of disease pathobiology or drug mechanism of action. We demonstrate its utility on a curated network model of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Graph Lens Lite is open source, with a live web version available at https://delta4ai.github.io/GraphLensLite/.