Animal Bioinformatics Workshop

BackgroundWorkshop 2006 on future of livestock genomicsExplosion in data resulting from the rapid advances in genomics technology, increasing volume and complexity

PurposeIdentify needs for the tools of storage, manipulation, integration and interpretation, as well as accompanying measures (e.g. training)Analysis is the current bottlenecksSearch for avenues for further

international collaboration

OpportunityEstablish a strong bioinformatics research community building resources to support agricultural/veterinary researchExtend our knowledge of farmed animals to illuminate the human (and model species) genomeIntegrate with other communities (model animal organisms, plant, microbial)Discuss twin/complementary/joint funding mechanisms for these activities

Farm Animal Bioinformatics

Workshop was led by scientific co-chairs :

•Curt Van Tassell (USDA/ARS Beltsville), and James Reecy (Iowa State University)

and

•Martien Groenen (Wageningen University) and Alan Archibald (Roslin Institute)

30 participants, 15 EU, 12 US, 1 NZ and 2 EU Industry representatives

Outcomes-Ideas-Needs

Training/EducationNeed for training ran through all discussions

•Current limitations•We have data, not the people to work it

•Sustainability•Scientists/leaders of tomorrow

•Opportunity for International Collaboration•Attract people with international training opportunities

Recognized need for computational biologists/bioinformaticists ◦ Need 30-40% of funds going to data handling◦ 1 in 3 or 1 in 4 hires in computational biology

for genomics projects

Two Hats of Bioinformatics◦ Management for the masses

Refining/Using tools that already exist◦ Analysis/collaborative teams for the cutting edge

New ways to thinkVisualize information

Key Challenges◦ System interoperability◦ Heterogeneity of data◦ Data capture

Plumbing analogy/electric grid◦ Pipes: Internet, Intranet◦ Reservoirs: Instruments, Public databases◦ Water towers: Internal databases◦ Filters and pumps: Software to transform dataLong term support for the databasesJoin forces of life sciences, human health, agricultureCan/will NCBI and EBI support non-model, non-human species information?

Reference populationsReference sequencesReference phenotypes

Our discussions focused on how to use bioinformatics as driver of research instead of supporting genomics researchReflected make up of the workshop◦ Biologists and bioinformatists

Working group to set priorities◦ Training opportunities◦ Workshops

Eg. Phenotyping, Manual annotation, Standardized data