Development of an Information Service Program in Molecular Biology and Genetics

1. Development of an Information Service Program in Molecular Biology and Genetics Ansuman Chattopadhyay, PhD Information Specialist in Molecular Biology and Genetics Barbara A. Epstein, MSLS, AHIP Associate Director, Health Sciences Library System Patricia C. Mickelson, MLS Director , Health Sciences Library System Nancy H. Tannery, MLS Assistant Director, Information Services Health Sciences Library System University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh

2. 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

3. Background • HSLS convened a planning group of interested • individuals from several relevant units to help • define information needs in molecular biology • and 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

4. 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

5. Ansuman Chattopadhyay, Ph.D. ansuman@pitt.edu • 1990-1996 • University of Nebraska-Lincoln • PhD. in Biochemistry • Protein synthesis initiation in eukaryotic system • 1997-2001 • Vanderbilt University School of Medicine • Research Fellow • Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) mediated signal transduction • 2001-2002 • Cellomics Inc., Pittsburgh • Knowledge Engineer, • Literature retrieval software • 2002- Present • Information Specialist in Molecular Biology and Genetics • HSLS, University of Pittsburgh

6. Molecular Biology and Genetics Information Service • Development 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

7. Modern day life science research: a multi-step process Proteome BioKnowledge Library Vector NTI BLAST Search Research Link Nucleic Acid Sequence Analysis Software PubMed Search NCBI-LocusLink Current Protocols Online GeneLynx GeneCards Protein Sequence and StructureAnalysis CellSpace Knowledge Miner Commercial Free to academic users Protein Interaction Databases Starting Point Knowledge Mining Nucleic Acid / Protein analysis Lab Work

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

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

10. Workshop #2 Workshop #1 Workshop #3 Proteome BioKnowledge Library Research Link BLAST Search Vector NTI Nucleic Acid Sequence Analysis Software Current Protocols Online PubMed Search NCBI-LocusLink GeneLynx GeneCards Protein Sequence and StructureAnalysis Commercial Free to academic users CellSpace Knowledge Miner Protein Interaction Databases Starting Point Knowledge Mining Nucleic Acid/ Protein analysis Lab Work

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

13. http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics A task specific hierarchical list of hyperlinks to bioinformatics software and databases

17. http://www.hsls.pitt.edu/guides/genetics restriction digestion

19. 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

20. Library & Bioinformatics Traineeship • Traineeship 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

21. Future Plan • Introduce HSLS Molecular Biology portal via • departmental seminars • Offer workshops on Genomic Resources • Structural Biology • Licensed Resources • Vector NTI CellSpace

22. “…..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 databases to unravel longstanding scientific mysteries.”atabases to unravel longstanding scientifi c… Andreas D. Baxevanis & Francis S. CollinsNature Genetics, September 2002, Vol 32