Archived Talks

University of Pittsburgh Department of Biomedical Informatics Lecture Announcement

“Challenges in Biomedical Data Integration: Bringing Proteomics to Genomics to Identify Novel Gene Products”

David J. States, MD, PhD
Professor of Human Genetics
Director of Bioinformatics Training Program
University of Michigan School of Medicine

Tuesday, December 18, 2007
11:00 AM to 12:00 NOON
Lecture Room 1, 4th Floor, Scaife Hall

Abstract: Biomedical science is experiencing an information deluge with increasing volumes of data being generated in essentially all areas of research. The inconsistent nomenclature and complexity of data sets in biomedical research make data integration difficult, but integrating data makes possible novel and powerful analytical strategies. Much of what we know about the universe of proteins has been inferred from nucleic acid sequence data. Mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics is emerging as a powerful new analytical technology, but there are multiple levels of disambiguation required to link MS spectra to protein products. Using high throughput MS data, we identify novel gene products not previously annotated in the genome. These novel gene products are a rich source of candidate biomarkers. Similar challenges and opportunities for multidisciplinary data integration exist across the biomedical sciences and will be particularly important for clinical and translational scientists seeking to make use of high throughput diagnostics and quantitative trait genetics.

For more information: jxc3@pitt.edu or 412.647.7113