ICCBnet: An international bioinformatics network for the (speedily) developing world
ICCBnet homepage: http://www.iccbnet.org
by M. Edelman, ICCBnet Coordinator
Computerized resources in molecular biology, which include the fast accumulating data on genes and proteins, are nowadays crucial for the progress of medicine, biotechnology, agriculture and other fields. However, while scientists in Western Europe, the USA and Japan are generally well equipped to make use of bioinformatic data banks containing this information, their colleagues in many other regions of the world lag far behind, lacking both equipment and training to exploit these vital new tools.
Scientists in Eastern Europe, Asia and other rapidly developing regions are eager to plug into the vast molecular biology resources available on-line. Thanks to ICCBnet, an international UNESCO-sponsored bioinformatics network, this now will be possible. ICCBnet, the International Center for Cooperation in Bioinformatics network, specializes in start-up assistance for local bioinformatic nodes, and provide centralized and local training and technical instruction in the use of international bioinformatics data banks and analysis of the data they provide.
EMBnet, the successful European Molecular Biology network, served this function for Western European scientists. Each Western European country now has its own national EMBnet node, which acts as a mirror site Ð a local electronic "copy" of selected databases from a world-class international center (such as EMBL's European Bioinformatics Institute at Hinxton, UK), to which that country's scientists connect. ICCBnet aims to be the equivalent of EMBnet for bioinformatically developing regions. ICCBnet's central node, located at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel, is linked to regional nodes - currently located in China, India, Italy, Poland and Turkey - which in turn link to other countries in their region. Through its node managers and coordinating group, ICCBnet maintains close ties with EMBnet as well as UNIDO's International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.
ICCBnet's activities began in 1994, with the establishment of a UNESCO-sponsored cooperative program between the Weizmann Institute and the Polish Academy of Science's Institute for Biophysics and Biochemistry. Following the success of the Israeli-Polish undertaking, the Weizmann Institute initiated similar UNESCO-sponsored programs with Turkey in 1995 and with India in 1996. Most recently, a cooperative effort has been launched with China. The official inauguration as the international bioinformatics network took place this past April at the Weizmann Institute, within the framework of ICCBnet's first regional meeting attended by heads of delegations from regional nodes, as well as by Adnan Badran, deputy director-general of UNESCO, and Paolo Zanella, director of the EBI.
Funding for ICCBnet comes from UNESCO and participating sites. Funding for specific workshops have also come from industry and various governmental sources. Recent ICCBnet activities included a 10 day Bioinformatics Managerial Workshop at ICCBnet's central facility attended by node managers from 12 sites representing six countries (including Egypt) on 3 continents. Upcoming ICCBnet bioinformatics workshops in 1997-98 are slated to be held at regional sites in Warsaw, Istanbul, Rehovot and New Delhi.
A recent exciting development is the addition of Italy as a new regional ICCBnet node to coordinate activities in the Southern Mediterranean countries.
Membership requirements:
Membership in ICCBnet is open to all interested
parties who agree with the goals and purpose of ICCBnet and meet the professional
requirements of the network. The goals of the network are that participating
sites from bioinformatically developing regions become knowledgeable and
proficient in receiving, analyzing and transmitting bioinformatic data
over the networks and attain self-sufficiency in these skills. A National
Node undertakes to coordinate ICCBnet activities within its country. National
Node status requires agreement by some appropriate government or other
public body (National Academy of Science, Ministry of Education, UNESCO
National Committee, etc.) in the local country. Regional Node status requires
a commitment by a National Node to coordinate ICCBnet activities in its
geographic/demographic region. For further information on membership visit:
Home
or contact ICCBnet Coordinator (M. Edelman):
National ICCBnet contact persons are:
China: L. Lai (Node Head), Peking University, Beijing.
email:
Egypt: E. Zaki (Node Head), Mubarak City for Scientific Research, Alexandria.
email:
India: B.B. Chattoo (MSU Node Head), M.S. University, Baroda.
email:
S. Sopory (ICGEB Node Head), ICGEB, New Delhi.
email:
Israel: L. Esterman (Headquarters Manager) Weizmann Inst. Sci., Rehovot.
email:
Italy: S. Liuni (Node Manager), CNR-Area di Ricerca, Bari
email:
Poland: P. Zielenkiewicz (Node Manager), Inst. Biochem. Biophys., Warsaw.
email:
Turkey: Z. Sayers (MRC-RIGEB Node Head), EMBL c/o DESY, Hamburg.
email: