LACBioNet : a Regional BioInformatics/Computational Biology Network for Latin-America and the Caribbean Special emphasis will be given to : Training and Human Resources Development Information and Communication Organization and Extension of Nodes and Services Research and Development Objectives : To develop and strengthen BioInformatics/Computational Biology in the Region through cooperation. BioInformatics/Computational Biology is understood in a broad sense and comprises the use of information technology to the management and modeling of biological data. It thus also includes modeling in epidemiology, aspects of public health plannning and intervention, genetics etc.

Training and Human Resources Development Training of users at entry level, medium level and advanced level, using : hands-on training courses on-line and distant learning under-graduate and graduate formal training in Bioinformatics exchange of students between network Centers Organize formal under-graduate and graduate programs in different centers, with similar core curriculum Training of staff in system management, system security etc. Salary and stability for informatics staff is a major problem.

Information and Communication Create a Virtual Center for BioInformatics and Computational Biology in the region. Organize a Directory of persons and groups/Centers active in bioinformatics in the region. Use techniques of videoconferencing, discussion lists, Web pages for communication and distant learning. Organize a virtual library for bioinformatics, provide links to journals in the field, and promote submission of manuscripts from the region in (on-line) electronic journals for bioinformatics.

Organization and Extension of Nodes and Services Offer services to users in the region Offer updated database access Install software for different applications Exchange interfaces, scripts etc. between centers EMBnode collaboration is beneficial Improve connectivity and bandwith where possible Improve 24h/7d accessibility

Research and Development Research and development will be promoted through collaborations between centers in the following fields : Development of algorithms, optimization, parallel processing, grid applications Database structure, methods for data mining, interfaces Genomics and annotation, sequence assembly, clustering, comparative genomics Functional genomics, proteomics, microarrays Molecular evolution and phylogeny Public health planning and intervention modeling (including geoprocessing) Population genetics and biostatistics Molecular modeling, docking, drug development etc.

Organization and Funding Preliminary network coordination : Wim Degrave - Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil - coordinator Oscar Grau - UNLP, La Plata, Argentina Luis Nuñez - CeCalCULA, Merida, Venezuela Julio Collado - NFRC, Cuernavaca, Mexico Reynaldo Altamiro - UCB, Cochabamba, Bolivia Fernando Alvarez - URU, Montevideo, Uruguay Possible funding sources : United Nations University BIOLAC program RELAB (Oscar Grau, Univ. La Plata) WHO/TDR CYTED-D Wellcome Trust Fogarty EEU Research and Development coordinators : to be selected

Immediate actions : Construction of Latin America and Caribbean BioInformatics Network home page Discussion list Directory of groups and people : register and search at Training course material and curriculum Fund raising