Top scientists to attend bioinformatics, computing symposium in Doha

The quest to establish a bioinformatics consortium in Qatar takes a step forward next week when biomedical and computing scientists of the world will assemble in Doha for a one-day symposium to mull emerging fields of translational systems biology and bioinformatics. Qatar Biomedical Research Institute (QBRI) and Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), two scientific research institutes within Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development, are co-sponsoring the symposium to be held at the Qatar National Convention Centre on June 25. Speaking about the symposium, QBRI Vice President of Research Acting Executive Director Dr. Abdelali Haoudi, said, "International bio-informaticians and scientists who use bioinformatics platforms in Qatar will come together to discuss the latest developments in the field for the first time in Qatar at the event titled 'Translational Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Symposium'." "The goal of the symposium is to create a bioinformatics consortium in Qatar that would be used as a platform for interested scientists to establish future collaborative research projects." Speaking on the evolving role of computing, QCRI Executive Director Dr. Ahmed Elmagarmid, said, "Computing is playing an increasingly important role in biomedical research. This symposium will help establish how Qatar can best marshal its technical resources and human capacity to advance biomedical research in Qatar." The symposium has attracted top international and local experts in the fields of translational systems biology and bioinformatics. One of the keynote speakers will be Eric Lander, a Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and director of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Dr. Lander is co-chair of U.S. President Barack Obama's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology. "Joining Dr. Lander as a keynote speaker is Professor Jeremy K. Nicholson, Chair in Biological Chemistry and Head of Department of Surgery & Cancer at Imperial College London. Dr. David Gifford of Massachusetts Institute of Technology, CSAIL; Dr. Prasanna Kolatkar, Genome Institute of Singapore; and Dr. Amos Bairoch of Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics also will speak. Local scientists from QBRI, QCRI, Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, Texas A&M - Qatar, Qatar University, Hamad Medical Corporation, and Anti Doping Lab Qatar will also give presentations.