African Virtual Conference on Bioinformatics 2009

From Bioinformatics.Org Wiki

Online at Bioinformatics.Org
February 19-20, 2008

Supported by the Bioinformatics organization, Regional students group-Africa (RSG-Africa), Regional students group-Morocco (RSG-Morocco), and African Society of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (ASBCB)

Important Dates

Abstract submission Deadline: Monday 12th January, 2009 Notification on Friday 30th January, 2009. Conference Dates: February 19-20 2009

1 Summary
2 Background
3 Program
- 3.1 First day
- 3.2 Second day
4 Registration
5 Virtual hubs
6 Submissions
7 Publications
8 Organizers
9 See also

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Summary

The Afbix'09 virtual conference, which is the first of its kind in Africa, is supported by the Bioinformatics Organization, Regional Student Group Africa (RSG Africa), Regional Student Group Morocco (RSG Morocco), and African Society of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (ASBCB). The proposed dates for the conference are 19th to 20th February 2009, which fall on a Thursday and Friday, respectively.

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Background

Over the last few years, Research in the fields of Bioinformatics and Computational biology has gained momentum within the African continent to study interactions of pathogen, hosts and vectors in relevant diseases. The concept of a 'virtual conference' is the first of its kind in Africa and this is an initiative of Bioinformatics Organization as well as students affiliated either to RSG Africa or RSG Morocco. The virtual conference organizers hope this opportunity will foster virtual interactions and collaborations among students as well as researchers and place Africa 'at par' with the rest of the world in terms of Bioinformatics and computational biology research.

Bioinformatics Organization (Bioinformatics.Org) has over 25,000 members and currently hosts over 100 projects that are related to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. The Organization also offers online interactive tutorials on several relevant topics. The tradition of virtual conferences at Bioinformatics.Org dates back from with the start series of Bioinformatics to Systems Biology 2007 (BSB'07).

The most recent BSB'08 conference Bioinformatics to Systems Biology 2008 ignited a spark in the audience across the world through four keynote talks, other virtual presentations and posters. The conference brought together over 140 attendees both directly and indirectly from across the globe.

RSG Africa was founded in May 2007 and currently has over 500 members in Africa. Members are drawn from North, South East, West and South Africa. The group in collaboration with senior faculty has organized workshops which include training in Bioruby/ Bioperl, R and Bioconductor as well as a Basic course in Molecular Phylogeny. RSG Africa with Bioinformatics.Org have organized virtual meetings which include a virtual lecture titled "Bioinformatics meets new challenges: system Biology" delivered on 4th of July 2008. Bioinformactics.Org provided scholarships to selected RSG Africa members and with the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) as a virtual hub; members took part in BSB'08 virtual conference.

RSG Morocco

RSG Morocco was founded on 21 March 2008 and currently has over 40 members from Morocco and also from others countries. The main goal of RSG Morocco is to strengthen the relationship and scientific exchange between students. RSG Morocco is participating in the organisation of this virtual meeting and will be the way that allow RSG Morocco members to take part in this virtual conference.

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Program

(All times Greenwich Meridian time GMT; please check the World Clock)

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First day

Morning session

8:30-9:30 - Introduction and welcoming speech

9:30- 13:00: Sub-theme 1: Structural Biology applied to infectious Diseases

9:30-10:30 - Keynote 1: Dr. Trevor Sewell

10:30-10:50 - Coffee break

10:50-11:30 - Invited Speaker 1 Dr. Raphael D. Isokpehi Title of the talk is "Aquaporins at the Host-Parasite Interface in Malaria"

11:30-11:50 - Oral presenter 1 (OP1)

11:50-12:10 - OP2

12:10-12:30 - OP3

12:30-12:50 - OP4

12:50-13:00 - Session Wrap-up

13:00-13:50 - LUNCH

Afternoon session

Sub-Theme 2: Applied Genomics to infectious diseases

14:00-15:00 - Keynote 2: Dr. Richard Wintle

15:00-15:40 - Invited speaker 2 Dr. Ezekiel Adebiyi Title of the talk is "Computational Biologists in Malaria Research: Significance, Challenges

and Suggestions on way forward"

15:40-16:00 - OP5

16:00-16:20 - Coffee break

16:20-16:40 - OP6

16:40-17:00 - OP7

17:00-17:10 - Session Wrap-up

17:10-18:00 - Poster Session 1

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Second day

Morning session

Sub-Theme 3: Applied Proteomics to Tropical Diseases

8:30-9:30 - Keynote 3: [en.scientificcommons.org/ivan_gerling Dr. Ivan Gerling]

9:30-10:10 - Invited Speaker 3 Dr. Lawrence Okoror

10:10-10:30 - OP8

10:30-10:50 - Coffee break

10:50-11:10 - OP9

11:10-11:30 - OP10

11:30-11:50 - OP11

11:50-12:10 - OP12

12:10-12:20 - Session Wrap-up

12:20-13:00 - Poster Session 2

13:00-13:50 - LUNCH

Afternoon session

Sub-Theme 4: Career Development in Bioinformatics and Opportunities for Researchers in Africa

14:00-15:00 - Keynote 4: Dr. Dan Masiga-Chair ASBCB

15:00-15:40 - Tutorials

15:40-16:00 - Coffee break

16:00-17:30 - Tutorials

17:30-18:00 - Session wrap-up, conference wrap-up.

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Registration

Registration is comprised of two steps. First, if you haven't already done so, create an online account to access the educational section of our website (this is separate from other accounts at Bioinformatics.Org). Second, register for this conference by making a payment using either the online registration form (use this form only for credit card payments via secured PayPal), or by sending in the mail-in registration form (~150 kB PDF, use this form if paying by US checks, credit card or corporate purchase order). Please check the registration fees below.

Registration deadline: Open

Fee: Individual:

$30 USD commercial & government
$20 USD non-profit & students in developed countries
$10 USD non-profit & students in developing countries

HUBs

$200 USD per HUB with 20 participants or less
$300 USD per HUB with approximately 30 participants.

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Virtual hubs

The conference will be held virtually with Bioinformatics Organization as the host. RSG Africa and RSG Morocco have identified several hubs within the continent that will avail the conference to participants. The major requirement for a hub is uninterrupted internet, conferencing facilities and a room to host several conference participants. The following HUBs will participate in the virtual conference;

RSG East Africa - confirmed (ILRI)
RSG South Africa- confirmed (SANBI)
RSG South Africa -confirmed (UCT)
RSG Morocco-confirmed (SMBI)
RSG North Africa- confirmed (IPT)
RSG West Africa- confirmed (Covenant university, Ota)
RSG Central Africa- confirmed (BUEA)
RSG Korea- HUB to be confirmed
RSG India- HUB to be confirmed

Interested persons are asked to liaise with the above HUBs for future communication about payment of the conference fees.

If anyone is interested in creating a new HUB in a different region kindly contact the organizers at afbixx@gmail.com.

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Submissions

The virtual conference will consist of a single track with oral and poster presentations. This is a first call for submission of abstracts; authors will indicate whether they are aspiring to have an oral presentation or a poster. The best abstracts from the oral presentation track will be invited for oral presentation, unsuccessful oral presentation abstracts will be invited for poster presentation. We strongly encourage members of RSG Africa, RSG Morocco, young investigators as well as research faculties to submit an abstract on their current work. The Program Committee will choose selected abstracts for oral as well as presentations.

The deadline for abstract submission : Monday 12th January 2009.
Notification of acceptance : Friday 30th January 2009.
Please submit your abstracts to afbixx@gmail.com

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Publications

One of the objectives of AfBix'09 is to provide for aspiring Scientists especially from the developing world,an opportuinity to publish in leading journals. In this regard, high quality articles will be submitted to the Journal of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (JBCB) for publication.

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