The ‘omics Data Tsunami » Non-stop revolution of high-throughput technology fuels unprecedented growth of ‘omics data » Researchers struggling with the increasingly complex ‘omics data » Lack of high-quality tools » Lack of bioinformatics know-how Number of public genomic data GEO 0

3 Click to edit Master title style Fragmented and Limited Bioinformatics USC » USC/CHLA Affymetrix Microarray Core » Cancer Center Molecular Genomics Core » Proteomics Core » USC Epigenome Center » Computation Biology and Bioinformatics Group » Cancer Center Division of Bioinformatics » Service often fee-based » Limited accessibility, especially for small research labs » No access to any commercial bioinformatics tools » No bioinformatics training or consultation support

It All Started in the Spring of 2004….

2005—The Start! » Norris Medical Library hired its first non-librarian Ph.D. » Several bioinformatics workshops developed and taught » User consultations offered Bioinformatics service offered by the library? Really??

2008—We Got the Tools! » NML purchased 3 commercial bioinformatics tools » Training workshops on the software were developed and offered » A series of PR efforts were made to raised the awareness of the bioinformatics service and offering Vector NTI Advance®

2009—Turn Crisis into Opportunities! » Surging user needs exacerbated the shortage of both personnel and software tools » Embarked on a series of meetings with high- level school and university administrators to gain support on expanding the program » A bioinformatics committee was established by USC VP of Research to evaluate bioinformatics needs and possible solutions » A software was developed in-house to assist microarray data analysis by users with no programming background.

2010—Yipee! » Hired the second non-librarian specialist with advanced degrees in both bioinformatics and biochemistry » USC VP of Research decided to provide annual funding for licensing bioinformatics tools following a recommendation by the bioinformatics committee

Norris Medical Library Bioinformatics Service

Bioinformatics Service Staff » Yibu Chen, Ph.D. in Biology Program Coordinator » Meng Li, Dual M.S. (Bioinformatics/Biochemistry) Bioinformatics Specialist

» Develop workshops and conduct training on using bioinformatics software and database » Provide consultation on applying bioinformatics tools for biomedical research » Support and manage access of in-house bioinformatics computing resources and licensed commercial bioinformatics tools. » Provide collaborative bioinformatics data analysis and support grant applications

High-throughput Data Analysis Literature Study/Data Mining Functional Genomics Analysis

Yes, They LOVE the Tools!

NML Bioinformatics Service Annual Activity Stats

Closing Remarks » The bioinformatics needs in academia environment will continue its torrid growth in coming years. » The current fragmented approaches in most academic institutions are unable to address such needs effectively. » With right strategies, library-based bioinformatics service programs can become a key player in the era of big-data