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

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

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 Background

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 Position advertised in Cell, Nature, Science, The Scientist and Nature Structural Biology and numerous list-servs. Ansuman Chattopadhyay, PhD, hired in spring 2002

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

Molecular Biology and Genetics Information Service 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

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

HSLS Online-Molecular Biology web site : A Portal for Molecular Biology and Genetics

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

A task specific hierarchical list of hyperlinks to bioinformatics software and databases

restriction digestion

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

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

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

“…..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. Collins Nature Genetics, September 2002, Vol 32