Development of an Information Service Program in Molecular Biology and Genetics

Ansuman Chattopadhyay, PhDInformation Specialist in Molecular Biology and GeneticsBarbara A. Epstein, MSLS, AHIPAssociate Director, Health Sciences Library System Patricia C. Mickelson, MLSDirector , Health Sciences Library System Nancy H. Tannery, MLSAssistant Director, Information ServicesHealth Sciences Library SystemUniversity of PittsburghPittsburgh

Background

Recognition that a rapidly growing research component is focused on molecular biology and genetics

HSLS hosted NCBI workshops

HSLS invited Stuart Yarfitz , Ph.D. from U. of Washington as a consultant to give presentation on the U. of Washington Bioinformatics Services Program and meet with key administrators and faculty

HSLS convened a planning group of interested individuals from several relevant units to help define information needs in molecular biologyand genetics

Center for Human Genetics Center for Computational Biology Center for Biomedical Informatics Office of Research Dept of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center

With input from planning group, HSLS drafted a proposed Program Plan for a Specialized Information Service in Molecular Biology and Genetics and a position description for an Information Specialist

Background

Background Senior Vice Chancellor for Health Sciences agreed to fund the Information Specialist position and contribute funding for resources

School of Medicine alumnus donated $100,000 to subsidize molecular biology / genetics databases

Recruitment for Information Specialist initiated in fall 2001. Position advertised in Cell, Nature, Science, The Scientist and Nature Structural Biology and numerous list-servs.

Ansuman Chattopadhyay, PhD, hired in spring 2002

1990-1996University of Nebraska-LincolnPhD. in BiochemistryProtein synthesis initiation in eukaryotic system1997-2001Vanderbilt University School of MedicineResearch FellowEpidermal Growth Factor (EGF) mediated signal transduction2001-2002Cellomics Inc., PittsburghKnowledge Engineer, Literature retrieval software2002- PresentInformation Specialist in Molecular Biology and GeneticsHSLS, University of PittsburghAnsuman Chattopadhyay, Ph.D.ansuman@pitt.edu

Molecular Biology and Genetics Information ServiceDevelopment of a web-based portal for molecular biology and genetics information

Development of training workshops on the use of bioinformatics tools

Consultation service to access biological information resources

StartingPointBLAST SearchPubMedSearchCellSpaceKnowledge MinerProteome BioKnowledgeLibraryGeneLynxGeneCards Protein Interaction DatabasesVector NTIResearchLinkNucleic Acid SequenceAnalysis Software Knowledge MiningNucleic Acid /Protein analysisLab WorkProtein Sequence and Structure AnalysisCurrentProtocolsOnlineCommercial

Free to academic usersNCBI-LocusLink Modern day life science research: a multi-step process

HSLS Online-Molecular Biology web site : A Portal for Molecular Biology and Geneticshttp://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics

http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics

StartingPointBLAST SearchPubMedSearchCellSpaceKnowledge MinerProteome BioKnowledgeLibraryGeneLynxGeneCards Protein Interaction DatabasesVector NTIResearchLinkNucleic Acid SequenceAnalysis Software Knowledge MiningNucleic Acid/Protein analysisLab WorkProtein Sequence and Structure AnalysisCurrentProtocolsOnlineCommercial

Free to academic usersNCBI-LocusLinkWorkshop #1Workshop #2Workshop #3

http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics

http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/geneticsA task specific hierarchicallist of hyperlinks to bioinformaticssoftware and databases

http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/geneticsrestriction digestion

Health Sciences Library & Bioinformatics Traineeship Part of Pittsburgh Biomedical Informatics Training Program funded by NLM

Previously traineeship was only a one year certificate program in Health Sciences Library and Bioinformatics

Joint program between HSLS and Center for Biomedical Informatics

Library & Bioinformatics TraineeshipTraineeship now includes option of two year degree program:

Designed for trainees with background in biological sciences (molecular biology and genetics)

Courses lead to a master degree in Bioinformatics

Trainee gains experience in providing specialized Molecular Biology / Genetics Information Services in the Health Sciences Library

First trainee in two year program started in 2003

Future Plan Introduce HSLS Molecular Biology portal via departmental seminars Offer workshops on Genomic Resources

Structural Biology

Licensed Resources Vector NTI CellSpace

..only half of biomedical researchers using genome databases are familiar with the tools that can be used to actually access the data... all scientists on the planet must be empowered to use these powerful databasesto unravel longstanding scientific mysteries. atabases to unravel longstanding scientifi c Andreas D. Baxevanis & Francis S. Collins Nature Genetics, September 2002, Vol 32