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The finished sequence of the human genome represents an invaluable
scientific resource that has greatly accelerated research. However, the
bewildering array of genomic information, novel analysis tools and ancillary
databases are difficult to navigate without being equipped with the skills
necessary to make optimal use of the data. The purpose of the Duke
Bioinformatics Workshop (DBW) is to provide its participants, graduate
students and experienced scientific researchers alike, with the expertise to
efficiently explore this myriad of information. The DBW is directed at
individuals with previous genomics experience and has been designed to give
a broad overview of topics relevant to innovative research with examples
chosen by experienced instructors who use these data on a daily basis. The
workshops will continue to provide intensive training in an environment that
fosters close interaction between students and instructors.
The 2013 DBW builds upon the success of eight previous years of Duke
Bioinformatics workshops that have trained over 340 researchers in the use
of publicly available bioinformatic data. This year's workshop includes new
databases and experimental platforms that reflect advances in technological
and scientific fields of research. The course is a 4-day workshop (July 29 - August 1)
that introduces new technologies and databases and has
in-depth coverage of genome browsers, comparative sequence analysis, microarray platforms,
proteomics and applications of
next-generation sequencing platforms.
The major factors that will influence the use of the vast amount of data
arising from the Human Genome Project will be an awareness of the diversity
of data that is publicly available and the development of skills that can
make full use of it. The significance of the DBW lies not only in its
content,( i.e. utilization of evolving biological databases and the
innovative tools with which they are queried) but also the Instructors who
present the class. The DBW instructors understand the inherent strengths and
weaknesses of the analyses they perform. The DBW will provide scientific
researchers with a workshop at which the participants are exposed to, and
have use of, biological databases that they will utilize in their respective
fields or research.
Instructors participating in the 2013 DBW are from
Duke University, the Jackson Laboratory, and the Wellcome
Trust Sanger Institute (UK)
and are acknowledged experts in their field. Each instructor's module
is based upon publicly available resources that they use on a daily basis as part of
their own specialized fields of research.
As with previous years, the class size is limited to 45 students. A class of
this size promotes close interaction between the instructors and students in
the didactic and exercise components of each module and the free research
time at the end of both workshops.
Each topic module contains a short didactic component, together with worked
examples and exercises to reinforce the lessons of the module. The workshop
is accompanied by a color manual that contains all the worked examples,
exercises and additional information pertaining to each module. In addition
to the manual, the cost of the workshop includes lunch, as
well as morning and afternoon coffee.
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