Two centers within the infant Institute for Genome Sciences and Policy are joining to offer a new doctoral program in bioinformatics and genome technology next year, even as they just awarded their first certificate Thursday.
James Siedow, vice provost for research and interim director of the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, said although the program has not been finally approved, bioinformatics officials hope the program will take its first Ph.D. students in fall 2002.
Jeff Vance, director of graduate studies for the certificate program, said it is difficult to get a new doctoral program approved, but fully expects it to attract graduate students. He said the current certificate is akin to a minor for graduate students.
"For Ph.D. students, I think the desire is pretty strong, particularly people coming from a computer science or math background," said Greg Wray, associate professor of biology.
Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that studies data from genomics and DNA research. Converting data from research into numerical form, scientists can program computers to interpret various genetic factors and make predictions of possible DNA combinations.
"The idea was to start a certificate program as a preliminary bridge until the Ph.D. program could officially be started," Vance said. "We're going to keep it going because it's very popular, and because it covers so many fields. There's a real desire by many students to have some background in it."
Vance, who said he would probably not be the graduate director of the doctoral program, said few universities have bioinformatics programs. Because Duke already has an extensive genomic database and faculty specialized in DNA microarrays, Duke hopes to excel in that area. The study of DNA microarrays involves arranging genes so that scientists can find what roles they play in certain situations, from genetic diseases to how gene are expressed, Siedow said.
The program will incorporate not only Medical Center departments such as genetics, but also the Pratt School of Engineering and many Arts and Sciences departments as well, including statistics and decision sciences, computer science, mathematics, physics and biology.
In addition to the doctoral program and the certificate, bioinformatics has organized an ongoing seminar series and is working on a fledgling post-doctoral program as well.
Currently, the program lacks enough faculty and infrastructure, but Siedow said the University's core faculty in the area, in addition to its access to databanks, already provide strength for the doctoral program.
"We've got a large base of patients," Siedow said. "That's really a competitive advantage on our side." The University also has one of the nation's largest DNA databanks.
Scientists believe bioinformatics applications are endless, and include predicting reactions to medicines and determining the origins of some genetic abnormalities. Vance and Siedow agreed bioinformatics is the fastest growing field in science.
"There's a lot happening," Siedow said. "In a couple of years, people are going to wake up and realize that bioinformatics is all over."
Wray said the mapping of the human genome has been the major impetus for the field, and the vast amount of information has created a need for experts both in academics and in the private sector.
"It's turning out to be a gold mine of information," he said. "It's really kind of up for grabs," Wray said. "Anybody who's smart can jump in, do something and make a meaningful contribution."
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