UNMC/UNO to Offer Bioinformatics Program
The explosion in genomic information has created an unprecedented need
for scientists with the ability to use computers and information science
to study large amounts of genetic information and biological structures.
Beginning this fall, the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the
University of Nebraska at Omaha will join together as one of the few universities
in the nation to train graduate students for careers in bioinformatics.
The new program includes the Department of Pathology and Microbiology
at UNMC and the departments of Computer Science and Information Systems
and Quantitative Analysis in the College of Information Science and Technology
at UNO.
The field of bioinformatics is growing as established biotechnology
companies take advantage of the DNA sequence of the human genome. Started
in 1990, the U.S. Human Genome Project, coordinated by the U.S. Department
of Energy and the National Institutes of Health, has been working to identify
all the more than 100,000 genes in human DNA.
The UNMC/UNO program will offer a master’s and Ph.D. degree through
the Pathology and Microbiology Department, but will include extensive work
at the College of Information Science and Technology. The training allows
students to become familiar with modern concepts of molecular genetics,
computer design and function, and information structure and analysis pertaining
to biological information databases. The program will require undergraduate
training in biology and computer and information sciences as prerequisites
for the graduate degree program.
“We’re taking a lead role in a new and emerging field and exercising
the strengths of both colleges and departments,” said Hesham Ali, Ph.D.,
in UNO’s Department of Computer Science.
“This gives us a chance to offer students the opportunity to train in
an extremely exciting and valuable new area,” said Donald Johnson, Ph.D.,
in UNMC’s Department of Pathology and Microbiology. “Students in the program
will be specialized individuals who will understand biology and computer
science and be able to analyze and use information for a real understanding
of human biology and how to solve and cure diseases.”
The amount of genomic information to process is staggering. If the sequence
of the human genome — a continuous chain of information coded with the
letters A, T, G, and C — was lined up in 12 point font (the size of this
type) it would stretch from San Francisco to New York.
The need for scientists and managers in bioinformatics also is staggering.
Nationally, there will be approximately 60,000 jobs available in bioinformatics,
but less than 10 universities offering such a program, Johnson said. The
need continues to grow as emerging and established biotechnology companies
take advantage of the DNA sequence of the human genome.
“This is a program where the University of Nebraska can grow some really
strong students and help us do some incredible interdisciplinary work,”
said Wayne Dyksen, dean of the UNO College of Information Science and Technology.
Dyksen also hopes the program yields economic development opportunities
for the state with bioinformatic companies forming and relocating in Nebraska.
“This is, in many ways, the future of molecular biology and the first
step toward developing a free-standing bioinformatics program,” said William
Berndt, Ph.D., vice chancellor for academic affairs at UNMC.
The program is another example of the collaboration between the two
campuses, said Justin Stolen, Ph.D., in UNO’s Department of Information
Systems and Quantitative Analysis. “It’s also a recognition of a growing
area that really needs to be dealt with and can’t be dealt with by either
campus individually.”
To learn more about the program, access the UNMC/UNO bioinformatics
website at www.isqa.unomaha.edu/bioinformatics.
UNMC is the only public academic health science center in the state.
Through its commitment to research, education, outreach and patient care,
UNMC has established itself as one of the country’s leading centers for
cancer research and treatment, solid organ transplantation and arthritis.
During the past year, nearly $31 million in research grants and contracts
were awarded to UNMC scientists, and UNMCs funding from the National Institutes
of Health increased by 28 percent, going from $16.2 million to $20.7 million.
UNMC’s educational programs are responsible for training more health professionals
practicing in Nebraska than any other institution.