Bio Saga Blog - A Chronicle of Life Sciences & Informatics

A 5-day workshop with hands-on training involving the following topics from molecular biology and bioinformatics. The workshop aims to equip its participants with the right kind of knowledge and tools required to practice 21 st   century biology. The biology and bioinformatics contents are interwoven in such a manner that would help a molecular biologist to find solutions to real time problems in a lab and a bioinformatician to understand the laboratory aspects of bioinformatics. Workshop Dates 17th - 21st May 2010 24th - 28th May 2010 14th -18th June 2010 26th - 30th July 2010 23rd - 27th Aug 2010 10th - 14th Jan 2011 16th - 20th May 2011 Topics Recombinant DNA Technology: Cutting & pasting of DNA molecules (i.e. restriction digestion, ligation, DNA gel eectrophoresis, and gel extraction.)  Bioinfo part: Bioinformatics of DNA database / Sequence Analysis: Pairwise sequence alignment, Multiple sequence alignment, Pattern search. Tools: BLAST, CLUSTALW/X, C...

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) have consistently observed strong evidence of association with polymorphisms in   APOE . However, until recently, variants at few other loci with statistically significant associations have replicated across studies. The present study combines data on 483,399 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from a previously reported GWAS of 492 LOAD cases and 496 controls and from an independent set of 439 LOAD cases and 608 controls to strengthen power to identify novel genetic association signals.   Studies looking for genetic variants across the genome that affect late-onset Alzheimer disease (LOAD) have had little success identifying genes other than  APOE . Here, we use an expanded set of AD cases and controls to improve our power to detect genetic variants driving LOAD risk. Analyzing 483,399 genetic variants across the genome in a discovery dataset of 931 cases and 1,104 controls, we found a s...

Opportunity: Professional (P2), CEM Research Informatics @ Pfizer--San Francisco, CA (US) BACKGROUND: Pfizer Inc : Working together for a healthier world Founded in 1849,   Pfizer   is the world's premier   biopharmaceutical company   taking new approaches to better health. We discover, develop, manufacture and deliver quality, safe and effective   prescription medicines   to treat and help prevent disease for both people and animals. We also partner with healthcare providers, governments and local communities around the world to expand access to our medicines and to provide better   quality health care   and health system support. At Pfizer, colleagues in more than 90 countries work every day to help people stay happier and healthier longer and to reduce the human and economic burden of disease worldwide. RESPONSIBILITIES: This role is responsible for supporting computational research operations at Rinat, interfacing with customers and BT...

First the genome; now the proteome. China has already established a leading position in DNA sequencing through the work of the  BGI  in Shenzhen (formerly the Beijing Genomics Institute), which has been generating eye-catching genomics discoveries for the past few years (see  Nature  464,  22–24; 2010 ). This week, Chinese researchers are set to announce initiatives that could put them at the forefront of international efforts to catalogue and characterize all proteins in the human body. Inspired by the Human Genome Project, protein researchers worldwide have been seeking funds to build a full catalogue of human proteins — a proteome — which, they say, will explain how the information encoded in our genomes can give rise to normal and diseased states. his January, the  Human Proteome Organization  (HUPO) in Montreal, Canada, took the first steps towards an international effort. It set up the Human Proteome Project (HPP) working group to coordinat...

C SHALS is the premier annual event focused on the use of semantic technologies in the pharmaceutical industry, including hospitals/healthcare institutions and academic research labs. Rather than a Semantic Web conference, CSHALS focuses on specific applications of semantic technologies. Attendees will gain a better understanding of where the field is headed and be prepared to advance with the field. Themes of past CSHALS conferences: Clinical Information Management Discovery Information Integration Integrated Healthcare and Semantics in Electronic Health Records Translational Medicine / Safety Search and Document Management/Business Intelligence/Text Mining Text Mining/ Information Extraction For further details visit   Share |

e-LICO multi-omics prediction challenge with background knowledge on Obstructive Nephropathy We present a biological data-mining problem that poses a number of significant challenges: The available data are of high dimensionality but of extre... Time Left:  90 days Teams:  84 Prize:  2500 EUR Share |

DBT-Research Associateship 2011 Biotechnology & Life Sciences Applications are invited from Indian nationals for the award of "DBT-Research Associateship" 2011 for pursuing research in frontier areas of Biotechnology and applied biology.  The Associateship is tenable in Research Institution/Universities including non-profit R & D Institutions within India.  The Associateships are awarded under a program sponsored by the Department of' Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India. Eligibility-: The applicants should hold a Ph.D. degree in Science, Engineering or M.D. or M.S. degree in any area of medicine with research interests in Biotechnology and Life Sciences and a good academic record.  The Associateship can be availed within 3 years of the award of Ph.D./M.D./M.S. degree; however, may be relaxable in case of women (by 2 years) and in-service candidates.  Those who have already submitted the Ph.D./M.D./M.S. thesis are also e...

Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. today announced the expiration of the Tender Offer by Sun’s subsidiary, Alkaloida Chemical Company Exclusive Group Ltd., to purchase all outstanding Ordinary Shares of Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. for $7.75 per Ordinary Share. “Sun is pleased to be able to finally close the Offer,” said Dilip Shanghvi, Chairman and Managing Director of Sun. Transactions contained in an Option Agreement related to the transfer of Taro shares owned or controlled by the Levitts to Sun and its affiliates are to be consummated contemporaneously with the expiration of the Offer. “We will now make every effort to consummate our Option Agreement to purchase the Levitts’ controlling shares of Taro,” he added. Sun has been informed by Computershare, the Depositary for the Offer, that as of the expiration of the Offer at midnight, New York City time, on September 14, 2010, a total of 29,382 Ordinary Shares, or approximately 0.07% of Taro’s outstanding Ordinary Sha...

In a study appearing in the newest issue of the  Archives of Neurology , members of the Texas Alzheimer's Research Consortium reported that they have  identified protein biomarkers  in the blood that can be used to distinguish between individuals with and without Alzheimer's disease. The researchers compared protein patterns in blood samples from hundreds of individuals with or without Alzheimer's disease and incorporated these potential biomarkers into an algorithm for detecting Alzheimer's cases in a test group. Their results so far suggest this algorithm can accurately classify most Alzheimer's cases — particularly when combined with  APOE  status and demographic data. And, they said, information from the biomarker study is offering clues about possible sub-groups within Alzheimer's. For instance, by looking at some of the proteins that are frequently expressed at different levels in the blood of those with Alzheimer's disease, the team identified a pote...

Pfizer Neuroscience Postdoctoral Fellowship Program www.pfizerneuroscience.com Based in scenic Groton, Connecticut, the Pfizer Neuroscience Fellowship Program provides an unparalled opportunity for young scientists interested in understanding brain disorders and translating knowledge into innovative medicines. We seek motivated and enthusiastic individuals with a demonstrated track record in basic or translational neuroscience interested in pursuing an academic-style postdoc in an industry setting. Successful candidates will come from a range of backgrounds including molecular/cellular biology, protein biochemistry, in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology, imaging, systems neuroscience, animal models, and behavioral/cognitive neuroscience. At Pfizer, there are extensive programs in molecular/cellular neuroscience, synapse biology, and pharmacology. Moreover, there is a vibrant in vivo electrophysiology program for cognition, extensive behavioral models, imaging platf...

Courtesy: Dr Raghava &  Bioclues PubDNA Finder is an online repository to link PubMed Central manuscripts to the sequences of nucleic acids appearing in them. It extends the search capabilities provided by PubMed Central by enabling researchers to perform advanced searches involving sequences of nucleic acids. This includes, among other features, (1) searching for papers mentioning one or more specific sequences of nucleic acids and (2) retrieving the genetic sequences appearing in different articles. These additional query capabilities are provided by a searchable index that was created by using the full text of the 176672 papers available at PubMed Central at the time of writing and the sequences of nucleic acids appearing in them. To automatically  extract the genetic sequences occurring in each paper an original method has been developed. The database is updated monthly by automatically connecting to the PubMed Central FTP site to retrieve and index...

I thought you should see these photographs. They're both powerful and moving.  They highlight the awful disease XDR -TB, a new and deadly form of tuberculosis that is threatening to become a global pandemic. By viewing and passing on this link we can help to spread awareness, which is the first step to halting the disease. XDRTB.ORG (http://www.xdrtb.org/) (As background, the photographs were taken by leading photojournalist James Nachtwey and were 'unveiled' on October 3rd, 2008 in more than 50 cities on seven continents as a deliberate attempt to highlight this new danger faced by the world.) Share |