Grant: Dissemination Events - Priority Announcement: Cancer Research

As for other aspects of human and health research, bioinformatics skills are playing a fundamental role in cancer research today, particularly given the complex biology of the cancer genome and the introduction of many high-throughput technologies into cancer research projects. Cancer researchers are increasingly seeking new skills in bioinformatics to aid their research. However, acquiring the advanced level bioinformatics skills required of these new technologies and data sets is often challenging because adequate training programs do not exist. The Canadian Bioinformatics Workshops proposal herein seeks to disseminate and support cancer-specific bioinformatics knowledge and skill development. The CBW is seeking support from the CIHR-ICR to host a Bioinformatics for Cancer Genomics (BiCG) workshop in 2012 and to sponsor trainee attendance at the workshop. The CBW is requesting $21,617, which constitutes 30% of the total budget for the proposed BiCG workshop. Registration fees will generate 45% and cash/in-kind contributions of 25% have been secured from external sources. The proposed BiCG workshop is a 5-day intensive, hands-on workshop designed to guide researchers through the key bioinformatics concepts and tools required to analyze cancer genomic data sets. Participants will gain experience in genomic data visualization tools, which are applied throughout the development of the skills required to analyze cancer -omic data for gene expression, genome rearrangement, somatic mutations and copy number variation. Strategies for pathway analysis on the resultant cancer gene list and integration of clinical data will also be provided. By providing a comprehensive program in cancer specific bioinformatics tools, the BiCG workshop aims to enhance the informatic skill set of the cancer research community in Canada and thereby have a positive impact on cancer research and personalized cancer therapy discoveries.