Beyond Omics Revolutions: Integrative Knowledge Management

The omics research (genomics, systems biology, etc.) is generating huge amounts of data that incorporates key information for the understanding of the biological basis of life and diseases. The management and analysis of this information requires powerful computational methods and tools, which are developed by a scientific discipline that is often labelled as Bioinformatics. As omics research, also health care and clinical research generate vast amounts of information in electronic format; given rise to another scientific discipline usually called Medical Informatics. Unfortunately, the omics information and the Bioinformatics tools are not generating health-related applications at the pace that was initially expected, nor the information generated in the health-related settings is used for enriching the basic biomedical research in the way that one may envisage. The reasons for the underdevelopment of synergic translational approaches between Bioinformatics and Medical Informatics are probably diverse. One of the possible reasons for this is the lack of joint discussion on the problem by opinion leaders from the diverse related disciplines.

With the aim of fostering such dialogue, B·Debate, an initiative of Biocat and Obra Social "La Caixa", and the Pompeu Fabra University in the framework of the European INBIOMEDvision project, organize a series of debates on the matter on July 3^rd and 4^th with the participation of a wide scope of internationally recognised experts. After the debate, on Thursday, July 5^th, an Open Symposium with the participation of some of the invited experts will be held in order to present key current initiatives in the field, as well as conclusions arising from the previous debates.

Debates (attendance by invitation)
Date: July, 3rd and  4th, 2012
Venue: CaixaForum Barcelona · Avinguda Francesc Ferrer i Guàrdia, 6-8 · Barcelona

Open Symposium
Date: Thursday, July 5^th, 2012
Venue: PRBB Auditorium · C/ Dr. Aiguader, 88 · Barcelona

Registration is open: If interested, send your application form in a message with “Interès Beyond Omics - Bioinformatics” in the subject line indicating your name, position, organization and contact details to: bdebate@bdebate.org