Training

As we move towards understanding biology at the systems level, access to large data sets of many different types has become crucial. Technologies such as genome-sequencing, microarrays, proteomics and structural genomics have provided the ‘parts lists’ for many living organisms.

The EMBL-EBI maintains the world’s most comprehensive range of molecular databases. On this course, through exercises and tutorials, you will learn about and gain experience using the latest resources and tools from research and services groups at the EBI. Topics will include browsing bacterial genomes, exploring human variations, the world of small molecules, drug discovery, RNAs and text mining. You will not only have the opportunity to hear from leading researchers and developers in the field but also explore the resources and gain knowledge and expertise through case studies.

Session Details

• Ensembl Genomes (http://www.ensemblgenomes.org/) is the new younger sibling of the Ensembl genome browser, opening up the power of Ensembl to non-vertebrate species (plants, fungi, bacteria, metazoa and protists) for the first time. Paul Kersey and his team will be training and give you a chance to explore Ensembl genomes during the hands on session.
• The Vertebrate Genomics Team (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/vg/) creates and maintains large-scale human variation databases to archive and provide access to experimental data resulting from high-throughput genotyping and sequencing technologies. Fiona Cunningham and other members of the Vertebrate Genomics unit will provide a series of lectures and tutorials for exploring variations in humans.
• Anton Enright and his team (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/enright/research.html) work on the development of algorithms, protocols and datasets for functional genomics. Their research focuses on determining the functions of regulatory RNAs. Through this session Anton and his team members will bring to you the state of the art in the RNA world and provide you with the opportunity to explore the various resources EBI provide to deal with and explore RNA data.
• The ChEMBL group (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/chembl/) led by John Overington focuses on mapping the interactions and functional effects of small molecules binding to their macromolecular targets. John and his team will train and lead you through an exploration of their drug discovery databases.
• The Rebholz Group (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/Rebholz/) focuses on the extraction of facts from the scientific literature in molecular biology. Dietrich and his team will present the latest text mining tools and you will have the chance to use them during the hands on sessions.
• The new group leader of Literature resources at the EBI will give a lecture on the future plans in this area.
• The final day will feature an exhibition of the latest tools for sequence searching by the EBI's external services team, and a series of brief lecture and discussions on the Omic's world: the dynamic and ongoing developments in Transcriptomics and Proteomics.
• You will also learn about new prototype infrastructure to manage experimental metadata (http://www.ebi.ac.uk/bioinvindex/home.seam) from Susanna-Assunta Sansone and Philippe Rocca-Serra.