When the human genome sequence was completed we entered the post-genomic era. Scientists have immense data sets describing the form of the genome and must now discover the biological insights encoded in this data – insights that may provide the basis for immense scientific and economic benefits which will extend over several generations.
Bioinformatics, the use of advanced computing methods in biological sciences and medicine, is a new multidisciplinary field that has evolved in this post-genomic era. The Institute of Biomedical Informatics (IBI), a new all-Ireland research institute, has been established to develop the software tools needed to investigate the link between genes and diseases such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, cardio-vascular disease, diabetes, and also to study reproductive biology. The ultimate goal of understanding such genetic information is to develop personalised, life-long healthcare.
A collaboration between the Irish Government and the foundation partners led by UCD, the IBI includes the NUI Galway, Trinity College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast along with Hewlett-Packard as the first industrial partner.
The goal of the IBI is to conduct research and develop international standards in the field of biomedical informatics. The institute will also develop educational material on biomedical informatics for the commercial and public sectors and will help create a suite of commercial services for the health industry. There will be strong emphasis on systems research and service provision through large-scale computing, data management and mining, and data visualisation.
The IBI will be funded through public funding agencies and industrial partners. A foundation scholars’ programme has already been established with initial funding provided by Hewlett-Packard and the Irish Research Council for Science, Engineering and Technology (IRCSET). Further funding worth €30 million over the next five years is expected.
