Showing papers on "Translational research informatics published in 2008"

Translational research : From benchside to bedside

Abstract: Translation of the achievements of basic science into everyday clinical practice remains a major issue in contemporary medicine, and is addressed through a new discipline, translational research, which aims to bridge the gap between basic and clinical research. Translational research encompasses laboratory studies, clinical demands, public health and health management, policies and economics; it is crucial in the evolution of contemporary biomedical science; and its interventions follow the political-economic, ethical-social and educational-scientific approaches. Translational research can progress through reorganisation of academic teams in a translational way. New academic posts translationally orientated are urgently needed, particularly in the field of trauma medicine, where lack of awareness of this new evolution is evident.

The Biomedical Informatics Research Network

Abstract: The Biomedical Informatics Research Network (BIRN), an infrastructure initiative sponsored by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH), fosters large dataand compute-intensive distributed collaborations in biomedical science with information technology innovations (Grethe et al. 2005; Ellisman and Peltier 2004).1 Currently, BIRN is composed of a collection of three scientific collaboratories centered around the brain imaging and genetics of human neurological disorders and the associated animal models. To enable these collaborative groups, the BIRN Coordinating Center (BIRN-CC) was established to develop, implement, and support the infrastructure necessary to achieve the large-scale data sharing, computation, and collaboration among the scientific collaboratories. BIRN’s overriding goal is to collect data from a number of researchers at different institutions so that for each scientific investigation, the scientists can consider sample sizes in the hundreds or thousands instead of in the tens. This is especially important in research into the causes and cures for relatively rare diseases. The BIRN collaboratories are:

Informatics and Medicine - From Molecules to Populations

Abstract: Objectives: To clarify challenges and research topics for informatics in health and to describe new approaches for interdisciplinary collaboration and education. Methods: Research challenges and possible solutions were elaborated by scientists of two universities using an interdisciplinary approach, in a series of meetings over several months. Results and Conclusion: In order to translate scientific results from bench to bedside and further into an evidence-based and efficient health system, intensive collaboration is needed between experts from medicine, biology, informatics, engineering, public health, as well as social and economic sciences. Research challenges can be attributed to four areas: bioinformatics and systems biology, biomedical engineering and informatics, health informatics and individual healthcare, and public health informatics. In order to bridge existing gaps between different disciplines and cultures, we suggest focusing on interdisciplinary education, taking an integrative approach and starting interdisciplinary practice at early stages of education.

Translational research in medical informatics or from theory to practice: A call for an applied informatics journal

Abstract: Objective: To bridge the divide between health informatics ‘bench research’ and the application of informatics in clinical and health care settings. Method: Identifying weak points in translational activities, i.e. in the process from health informatics research outcomes to IT system design and information management in clinical practice. Results and Conclusions: The creation of a new peerreviewed journal, designed to cultivate broad readership across health care, is suggested in order to communicate on informatics topics of translational interest and on the application of informatics principals. Such an applied informatics journal may appeal to practicing physicians, healthcare administrators and CIOs as well as medical informaticians. In a globalizing world with eHealth initiatives spanning across borders, such a journal should be an international effort. Close ties to the International Medical Informatics Association (IMIA) and to the journal Methods of Information in Medicine are suggested.

The cancer translational research informatics platform

Abstract: Background Despite the pressing need for the creation of applications that facilitate the aggregation of clinical and molecular data, most current applications are proprietary and lack the necessary compliance with standards that would allow for cross-institutional data exchange. In line with its mission of accelerating research discoveries and improving patient outcomes by linking networks of researchers, physicians, and patients focused on cancer research, caBIG (cancer Biomedical Informatics Grid™) has sponsored the creation of the caTRIP (Cancer Translational Research Informatics Platform) tool, with the purpose of aggregating clinical and molecular data in a repository that is user-friendly, easily accessible, as well as compliant with regulatory requirements of privacy and security.

Bioinformatics and cancer research: building bridges for translational research

Abstract: Genome studies have revolutionised cancer research in recent years as high-throughput technologies can now be used to identify sets of genes potentially related with different processes in cancer. However, managing all this data and organising it into useful datasets is still a challenge in the bioinformatics field. Finding relationships between the molecular and genomic information and the clinical information available, within the medical informatics domain, is currently driving the development of translational research in biomedicine. The dispersion and complexity of the molecular information, the poor adherence to standards, together with the fast evolution of the experimental techniques, pose obvious challenges for the development of integrated molecular resources. In parallel, restricted access to medical information together with the gaps in the development of standard terminologies are typical limitations in the area of medical informatics. The development of research projects combining medical and molecular information together with the current efforts to standardise and integrate databases and terminologies are described in this review as a demonstration of the fruitful activity in this area.

A Primer in Knowledge Management for Nanoinformatics in Medicine

Abstract: In the last years new scientific knowledge and technological developments derived from the Human Genome Project have been affecting the way in which biomedical research and clinical practice is carried out. This fact has had a profound impact in the current scope and definition of the"biomedical informatics" discipline. The big "genomic wave" boosted efforts in the medical informatics community to adapt its systems and make it possible the integration of "omics" knowledge and bioinformatic tools. Recent advances in another discipline, Nanotechnology, seem to be similarly starting to affect clinical research and practice (nanomedicine). The purpose of this document is to review the state of the art and current developments in nanomedicine and its potential impact on Biomedical Informatics. The authors have recently been granted with an European Commission research project, Action-GRID, that will analyse the field of nanoinformatics with the aim of identifing needs and discuss ongoing challenges and priorities in terms of knowledge management and discovery in nanomedicine.

Information Systems for Cancer Research

Abstract: The last decade has seen a massive growth in data for cancer research, with high-throughput technologies joining clinical trials as major drivers of informatics needs. These data provide opportunities for developing new cancer treatments, but also major challenges for informatics, and we summarize the systems needed and potential issues arising in addressing these challenges. Integrating these data into the research enterprise will require investments in (1) data capture and management, (2) data analysis, (3) data integration standards, (4) visualization tools, and (5) methods for integration with other enterprise systems.

Towards Addressing the Opportunities and Challenges of Web 2.0 for Health and Informatics

Abstract: Objective: To provide an overview of Web 2.0 and Health 2.0, and so facilitate a widespread discussion of the nature of these concepts and their possible application within the health domain, and implications for health and biomedical informatics and for IMIA. Methods: IMIA, the International Medical Informatics Association, has established a Web 2.0 Exploratory Taskforce to bring together interested individuals from within and outside IMIA to explore the nature and potential of Web 2.0 applications. The Taskforce aims to develop background materials and sample uses of Web 2.0 applications, so as to propose specific lines of action for the IMIA Board and General Assembly. This paper provides a brief overview of Web 2.0 and related concepts, and examples of general and healthspecific Web 2.0 applications. Some examples of the issues, challenges and opportunities are introduced, to set the scene for a wider dialogue on if, how, and how best, IMIA, and the wider health and informatics communities, should use these new applications and approaches. Results and conclusions: This brief paper provides an introduction to, and overview of, the many issues involved in considering the application of Web 2.0 to health and informatics. All interested individuals and organisations are invited to use this as a starting point for engaging in wider discussion and contributing to the Taskforce and to IMIA's future.

Computational Intelligence in Medical Informatics

Abstract: Medical Informatics (MI) is an emerging interdisciplinary science that deals with clinical health-related information, its structure, acquisition and use. MI is grounded in the principles of computer science, computational intelligence, as well as the clinical and basic sciences. This book deals with the application of computational intelligence in medical informatics. Addressing the various issues of medical informatics using different computational intelligence approaches is the novelty of this edited volume. This volume comprises of 15 chapters' including an introductory chapter giving the fundamental definitions and some important research challenges. Chapters were selected on the basis of fundamental ideas/concepts rather than the thoroughness of techniques deployed.

Biomedical Informatics in Translational Research

Abstract: Biomedical Informatics: Problems and Opportunities. Clinical Perspective. Specimen Collections and Pathology. Genomic Studies. Proteomic Studies. Data Tracking. Data Integration. Data Visualization, Data Analysis Tools. Research and Application: Examples. Research and Application: Future Directions.

Education in biomedical informatics and eHealth.

Abstract: The long-term effect of education in the field of biomedical informatics and eHealth on efficiency and quality of healthcare is discussed. Selected educational methods and tools are presented and their applications are shown.

Functional informatics and personalised medicine are key synergistic components of translational medicine

Abstract: Supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF) of United States of American and the International Society of Intelligent Biological Medicine (ISIBM), the IEEE 7th Bioinformatics and Bioengineering at Harvard Medical School was the only IEEE international conference designed dynamically in response to the cutting edge research and education in translational bioinformatics and bioengineering. The Harvard event contains a number of research workshops such as the workshop on Nano-Bio-Info Integration for Personalised Medicine organised by the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services, the workshop on progress toward petascale applications organised by Indiana University and Georgia Tech and the research workshop organised by the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, US Department of Energy and the Southern Illinois University. The Harvard event focused on special topics to resonate its theme: Functional informatics and personalised medicine are key synergistic components of translational medicine. It also fostered the collaboration and interaction between the functional informatics and personalised domains. The academic event attracted more than 500 scientists, researchers and medical doctors world-wide to present, discuss and exchange their research during 14-17 October, 2007 at Harvard Medical School. This special issue contains peer-reviewed full-length research papers focusing on modern translational medicine and treatment technique varying from molecular aspects to telemedicine, medical imaging and clinical applications. Those papers were originated from presentations and competitions for the research awards at Harvard. Authors were invited to expand their presentations into full research papers with significant additional scientific details. All papers were rigorously reviewed by at least three professors from the 273 members of scientific review and program committee. Those papers represent important original scientific contributions to the modern healthcare fields. More information regarding the Harvard event can be found at the White Paper of the IEEE 7th International Conference on Bioinformatics and Bioengineering at Harvard Medical School Conference at BMC Genomics http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2164/9/S2/I1

Addressing the biomedical informatics needs of a microarray laboratory in a clinical microbiology context.

Abstract: For an effective integration of microarray-based technologies in clinical settings a number of contributions from biomedical informatics technologies and techniques are needed to facilitate the improvement of the phases of experimental design, image analysis, data management, annotation, and analysis. In this communication we briefly present the state-of-the-art in the application of biomedical informatics to laboratories conducting microarray experiments and how our unit is coping with these requirements imposed by the routine clinical work of the National Centre of Microbiology, a reference laboratory for the Spanish Health System.

Informatics tools for meeting information and communication needs related to interdisciplinary research competency development.

Abstract: We conducted focus groups with junior investigators to assess their information and communication needs related to interdisciplinary research competency development and to identify the potential for informatics tools to assist in meeting these needs. Thematic analysis suggests that Wikis, web-based profiles, and digital portfolios might be useful.

Dental Informatics: An emerging discipline

Abstract: This literature review aimed to present the importance of the discipline of Dental Informatics for the curriculum of dental schools and daily dental practice. In the last years there was a fast development of Informatics applied to Dentistry, especially in areas related to patient exam, diagnosis, and treatment plan. CAD-CAM systems, computerized periodontal probes, digital radiography, and intraoral cameras are examples of the application of Informatics in Dentistry. Dental Informatics is a discipline showing constant development and is based on the application of computers and information science to improve clinical practice, research, education, and management. Therefore, it is important that Dental Informatics is included in the dental curriculum. At present the technological advances and scientific research require interdisciplinary approach and integration of large amount of information. This information usually comes from several sources, which requires its compilation in databases. Informatics media can significantly increase the velocity of integration and correlation of necessary information to speed up the medical-dental diagnosis and improve treatment efficacy. Key words: Dental informatics; bioinformatics, databases; dental education; diagnosis

Progress in the Researches on Domain Informatics

Abstract: With the application of computer technology and network technology, domain informatics have generated. Almost every combination of a basic subject and informatics can generate a new field of domain informatics by cross-study. However, the development of each discipline is in a different situation and a special degree. In this paper, the authors introduce chemical informatics, bioinformatics, medical informatics, and linguistics: their definitions, researches, and development trends.