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Aims
and Scope
Enormous
data is generated from sources such as clinical trials,
statistics, population genetics, imaging, gene sequencing,
gene expression analysis, and protein identification projects.
This has led to the evolution of a new innovative area of
multi-disciplinary research, termed Bioinformatics, defined
as, the science of storing, extracting, organizing, analyzing,
interpreting and utilizing information from biological
sequences and molecules. Bioinformatics deals with algorithms
and routines that have general applicability and that form the
basis for the evolving information technology research in
biomedical sciences and related disciplines. The explosion of
data generated by recent developments in molecular biology and
genomics has produced computational challenges which represent
collaborative research opportunities for computer scientists.
Computer scientists are needed to analyze, index, represent,
model, display, process, mine, and search large biological
databases. This need is already extensive and will continue to
grow.
Because
of the inherently interdisciplinary nature of Bioinformatics
research, academia has been slow to respond to strong industry
and government demands for professionals
with a background in Bioinformatics
to develop and apply novel Bioinformatics techniques to the
rapidly growing freely available repositories of genetic and
proteomic data. The
complex nature and vast amalgamation of different areas of
science in the field of Bioinformatics has confused the
academic institutes, since Bioinformatics is a new field
poorly served by traditional computer science curricula. The
fundamental challenge faced by educators, involved in the
development of Bioinformatics programs, is how to merge life
sciences curricula and computer science curricula. This is
because historically, life sciences curricula shares little
common ground with computer and information technology
curricula. The development of high quality programs in this
emerging field is necessary and the structure of these
programs must be carefully considered to derive a program that
is relevant, feasible, high quality and of a manageable scope.
The
primary aim of this track is to attract papers that address
these challenges relative to a variety of problems and
techniques. This track focuses on the techniques and
methodologies which give rise to the design and development of
information technology routines for applications in
Bioinformatics. It will also provide a forum for discussion of
ideas and techniques among educators and developers interested
in designing and enhancing undergraduate and graduate
programs in Bioinformatics.
The topics
include, but are not limited to the following:
- Algorithms for
Microarray Analysis
- Computational
Protein Structure prediction and Analysis
- Data Mining in
Bioinformatics applications
- Functional
Genomics
- Pattern
Recognition and Sequence Alignment
- String and graph
algorithms for Bioinformatics
- Storage and
access structures for biomedical data
- Biomedical Image
Processing
- Motivations for
a program in Bioinformatics
- Challenges and
issues for a Bioinformatics program
- Management and
Policy issues
- Method and
Strategies
- Curriculum
innovations and adaptations
- Impact on
student retention
- Successful
approaches, strategies, and techniques.
We would also
like to stimulate interest in this area, expose natural
collaboration among the participants, inform the larger
research community of the interest and importance of this
topic and create a permanent forum for evaluating innovations
and relevant research and academic activities.
Track
Chair
Mudasser F. Wyne, University of
Michigan-Flint, USA
Publication:
All
submitted papers will be reviewed on the basis of technical
quality, relevance, significance and clarity. Authors should
submit original, unpublished papers containing contributions
of theoretical or experimental nature. Papers will be
published in FIT-2006 Conference Proceedings.
Submissions:
Please
send your electronic submissions in DOC or PDF, to mfwyne@umflint.edu.
The page size should be for U.S. pages (8.5 x 11 inches). The
body of the submission should be in 12 point type. Submissions
should be no more than 6 pages in length. In all cases, please
include complete contact information for all authors.
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