Journal:Developing a bioinformatics program and supporting infrastructure in a biomedical library
| Full article title | Developing a bioinformatics program and supporting infrastructure in a biomedical library |
|---|---|
| Journal | Journal of eScience Librarianship |
| Author(s) | Hosburgh, Nathan |
| Author affiliation(s) | National Institutes of Health |
| Primary contact | Email: Nathan dot Hosburgh at nih dot gov |
| Year published | 2018 |
| Volume and issue | 7(2) |
| Page(s) | 2 |
| DOI | 10.7191/jeslib.2018.1129 |
| ISSN | 2161-3974 |
| Distribution license | Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International |
| Website | https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/jeslib/vol7/iss2/2/ |
| Download | https://escholarship.umassmed.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1129&context=jeslib (PDF) |
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Abstract
Background: Over the last couple decades, the field of bioinformatics has helped spur medical discoveries that offer a better understanding of the genetic basis of disease, which in turn improve public health and save lives. Concomitantly, support requirements for molecular biology researchers have grown in scope and complexity, incorporating specialized resources, technologies, and techniques.
Case presentation: To address this specific need among National Institutes of Health (NIH) intramural researchers, the NIH Library hired an expert bioinformatics trainer and consultant with a PhD in biochemistry to implement a bioinformatics support program. This study traces the program from its inception in 2009 to its present form. Discussion involves the particular skills of program staff, development of content, collection of resources, associated technology, assessment, and the impact of the program on the NIH community.
Conclusion: Based on quantitative and qualitative data, the bioinformatics support program has been heavily used and appreciated by researchers. Continued success will depend on filling key staff positions, building on the existing program infrastructure, and keeping abreast of developments within the field to remain relevant and in touch with the medical research community utilizing bioinformatics services.
Keywords: bioinformatics, bioinformatics support program, biomedical library
Introduction and background
In the context of an ever-expanding information landscape, those involved in biomedical research have become increasingly reliant on the use of bioinformatics to analyze large amounts of complex data. Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field involving molecular biology and genetics, computer science, mathematics, and statistics. Large-scale biological problems, such as modeling biological processes, are addressed from a computational point of view so that inferences can be made from aggregate data.[1] As stated by Rein[2], “Bioinformatics research advances in such areas as gene therapy, personalized medicine, drug discovery, the inherited basis of complex diseases influenced by multiple gene/ environmental interactions, and the identification of the molecular targets for environmental mutagens and carcinogens have wide ranging implications for the medical and consumer health sectors.”[2] The field of bioinformatics has seen explosive growth since the mid-1990s, spurred by the Human Genome Project and rapid advances in DNA sequencing technology.
Despite the importance of bioinformatics in advancing scientific research, it has been observed that most researchers in the life sciences do not have the necessary training to take advantage of the array of bioinformatics tools and resources available to them due to the rapidly evolving, interdisciplinary nature of the field.[3] Extensive technological changes, new databases and software, and changes in the types and quantity of data combine to pose formidable challenges to the uninitiated. Likewise, few biomedical librarians have the training, experience, or subject expertise required to provide robust bioinformatics services such as interpretation of molecular sequence database search results, pathway analysis, and data analysis from the latest biotechnology advances. Therefore, some institutions have recruited individuals with advanced degrees in biology or biochemistry and a strong background in bioinformatics to assess the molecular biological information needs of researchers and design strategies to enhance library resources and services in the areas of consultation, education, and resource development.[2][4][5]
References
- ↑ Can, T. (2014). "Introduction to Bioinformatics". In Yousef, M.; Allmer, J.. miRNomics: MicroRNA Biology and Computational Analysis. Methods in Molecular Biology. 1107. Humana Press. doi:10.1007/978-1-62703-748-8_4. ISBN 9781627037488.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Rein, D.C. (2006). "Developing library bioinformatics services in context: The Purdue University Libraries bioinformationist program". Journal of the Medical Library Association 94 (3): 314–20. PMC PMC1525331. PMID 16888666. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525331.
- ↑ Schneider, M.V.; Watson, J.; Attwood, T. et al. (2010). "Bioinformatics training: A review of challenges, actions and support requirements". Briefings in Bioinformatics 11 (6): 544–51. doi:10.1093/bib/bbq021. PMID 20562256.
- ↑ Li, M.; Chen, Y.B.; Clintworth, W.A. (2013). "Expanding roles in a library-based bioinformatics service program: A case study". Journal of the Medical Library Association 101 (4): 303–9. doi:10.3163/1536-5050.101.4.012. PMC PMC3794686. PMID 24163602. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3794686.
- ↑ Yarfitz, S.; Ketchell, D.S. (2000). "A library-based bioinformatics services program". Bulletin of the Medical Library Association 88 (1): 36–48. PMC PMC35196. PMID 10658962. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC35196.
Notes
This presentation is faithful to the original, with only a few minor changes to presentation. In some cases important information was missing from the references, and that information was added. The original article lists references in alphabetical order, by author; this version lists them in order of appearance, by design.
