1. APBioNet Report AP* Retreat, Bangkok Aug. 24, 2001 Shoba Ranganathan Vice-President, APBioNet Assoc Prof, Bioinformatics Centre National University of Singapore shoba@bic.nus.edu.sg

2. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region APBioNet’s aims APBioNet is dedicated: to the advancement of the field of bioinformatics and its development network infrastructure, the exchange of data and information, the development of training programs, workshops and symposia and the encouragement of collaborations in the field of bioinformatics.

3. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region Current Executive of APBionet President: Prof. S Subbiah Vice-President: Assoc Prof S Ranganathan Secretariat headed by Assoc Prof Tan Tin Wee at the National University of Singapore Continuing from Jan 2000

4. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region Internet: APBionet & APAN To further the development of the bioinformatics network infrastructure, APBioNet has formed a partnership with the Asia-Pacific Advanced Network project (APAN). Towards the exchange of data and information, APBioNet's collaboration with APAN will link DDBJ, GenomeNet, HGC, NCC, ANGIS, MAFFIN, as well as allow individuals to exchange data and other scientific information quickly. New APAN Natural Resource Area – with Agriculture and Earth Monitoring

5. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region BioMirrors Project

6. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region Bio-Mirrors 22 relevant Bioinformatics databases maintained and updated regularly worldwide. High speed access is provided by Internet2 infrastructure of the Very High Speed Backbone Service (vBNS), Abilene, TransPAC and the Asia- Pacific Advanced Network (APAN). Currently there are 9 Bio-mirror nodes: Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Taiwan and USA (data source)

7. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region BioGRID Originally proposed as a distributed GRID computing project for Bioinformatics problems. However, despite the setting up of large- scale grid computing facilities worldwide, BioGRID is yet to take off. The time is right now and a new WG will be constituted to start this afresh.

8. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region New Events and Initiatives - 1 1. InCOB 2002 Conference in Bangkok Feb 2002 supported by APBioNet Forum on i.BioPathways consortium, ii. I3C Informatics Interoperability consortium iii.BioOntologies consortium iv.SIGSIM v.WEB01 Bioinformatics Education vi.Bioinformatics Open Source Consortium

9. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region New Event & Initiatives - 2 FAOBMB Bioinformatics Workshop conducted by APBioNet: Lahore Nov 2001 Organization of the Genomics & Bioinformatics session

10. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region New Event & Initiatives - 3 AsiaPacific Bioinformatics Institute (distributed campus) Requirements document ABI Task Force formation International Selection Committee Draft of "Call for Proposal of Host Institutions and country"

11. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region New Event & Initiatives - 4 S* Life Science Informatics Alliance Global Bioinformatics Education trial course module by Shoba Ranganathan, Secretary, S* Alliance 1.Online Registration for any student in the world 2.Online Lectures by S* Stanford-Singapore- Sweden-SANBI-Sydney professors 3.Online Tutorials, Online Webchat and FAQs and online Teaching assistants 4.Online Assessment and Award of S* credits

12. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region New Event & Initiatives - 4 S* Life Science Informatics Alliance 5.Opportunity to register for Graduate Programs of S* Universities based on excellent results in Assessment Stanford University South Africa National Bioinformatics Institute National University of Singapore Karolinska Institutet, Sweden Uppsala University, Sweden University of Sydney 6.Course curriculum Development 7.Course evaluation

13. Fostering Bioinformatics in the Asia-Pacific Region Feedback from you Join APBionet: http://www.apbionet.org Suggestions/comments to: sec@apbionet.org