Grant: Dissemination Events

With the explosion of scientific data generated by the life science research community, databases have become the standard way of managing and processing large amounts of information. Biocuration is essential in examining how raw data from genome sequencing, gene and protein expression profiling projects can be used to generate knowledge about gene and protein function and structure, molecular evolution, drug targets and disease mechanisms. The International Society of Biocuration (ISB) and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research (OICR) are hosting 7th International Biocuration Conference (Biocuration 2014) in Toronto, on April 6-9, 2014. The overarching goal of the Biocuration 2014 Conference is to connect biocuration groups worldwide that collect all manner of biological information pertaining to microorganisms, animals and humans, with researchers and clinicians studying human disease such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The conference is designed to maximize interactions, and to provide a dynamic environment for the exchange of ideas, results, and to create new collaborations. The conference will include three plenary talks featuring established scientists within the biocuration community and lead projects that relying upon curated data types. Amongst the sessions and workshops, will be time devoted to finding synergies between bioinformatics and medical informatics, which will promote knowledge translation, and the dissemination and integration of biological and clinical research data. These areas are critical for the development of a robust and engaged group of biocurators that will take on the next generation of challenges in biological and clinical research.