THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH
COLLEGE OF MEDICINE AND VETERINARY MEDICINE
RESEARCH COMMITTEE
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 26 February 2003 at 2.00 pm in
the Elder Room, Old College
Present:
Professor C Haslett (Convener)
Professor G Fowkes
Professor P Ghazal
Professor C Gregory
Professor D Porteous
Professor J Smyth
Professor N Turner
Professor M E J Woolhouse
Dr H Cubie
Dr M Shipston
Ms L MacDonald
In attendance:
Dr R Baldock
Professor S G N Grant
Professor R Millar
Professor J Mullins
Mr L Golightley
Mr P McGuire (Secretary)
Apologies:
Professor P Brophy
Professor S Hillier
Professor J Savill, Head of College
Professor J R Seckl
Professor E Watson
Professor D J Webb
Dr R Smailes
The Convener welcomed the following persons who were invited for the discussion on Bioinformatics:
Dr Richard Baldock of the Human Genetics Unit, Professor Robert Millar, Director of the
Reproductive Human Sciences Unit, Professor Seth Grant, Director of the Wellcome Trust Genes to
Cognition Functional Genomics Programme, and Professor John Mullins, Co-Director of the Wellcome
Trust Functional Genomics Programme in Cardiovascular Biology.
1.
Minutes of the meeting held on 18 December 2002
These were approved, subject to the following amendment:
Item 11. Any other business: Clinical Research Facility
The last sentence should read: ‘Mrs Ali Stevens of the CRF will co-ordinate and lead the
development of both committees, in collaboration with the Trust R&D Director.’
2.
Matters arising
There were none.
3.
Outline research strategy: Discussion paper from the
Head of College and the Director of Research
This was essentially a prompt for discussion. At this stage only centres had been included, but
eventually the paper would form part of a larger strategy document. Feedback was most
welcome, and this should be forwarded to the Director of Research or the Committee Secretary.
Minutes of College Research Committee, 26 February 2003 (1)
4.
Research “Technology Engines”: Bioinformatics
Introduction: Bioinformatics has multiple definitions and is a rapidly evolving science. It
concerns the developing of computer databases and algorithms for the purpose of enhancing
biological research, and includes areas such as data analysis, genomics and its functions,
proteomics and the analysis of imaging. Its importance to the Life Sciences is more in data
handling than computation. While it serves biomedical science, it is also a subject for research in
its own right.
Current interface: This is most in evidence in Neuroscience, where it includes masters and
doctoral training programmes provided for around 50 Neuroinformatics students. Elsewhere
within the College, it includes gene expression databases, imaging analysis, genotyping
phenotyping, proteomics, embedded Bioinformaticians at Roslin and most recently a proposal
for a Scottish spoke of Biobank UK, the largest ever study of its type.
Infrastructure: The College needs to know what Bioinformatics infrastructure it requires over
the next five years for our current and emerging research centres to remain competitive. A
College-wide strategy is required, within a University-wide strategy. A critical mass of activity
and a concentration of shared technology must be achieved, but disparate sites and themes must
be served.
In the College of Science and Engineering, Professor Bulfield plans to establish a Centre for
Bioinformatics, with a new chair, under the umbrella of the School of Informatics and based in
the e.Science Centre. It was argued that the proposed new Informatics building on the Crichton
Street carpark will be in the wrong location, in view of the planned re-location of so many
researchers to Easter Bush and Little France and others already there or at Kings Buildings, and
that strategically the building would be much more significant as a Bioinformatics hub at Little
France. However, it may be too late at this stage to propose an alternative location.
At the Sanger Institute, Cambridge, there is a large, sophisticated, cutting edge Informatics
department located next door to the genome research centre. However, Edinburgh differs in
having multiple sites and very diverse research themes. A key challenge for Edinburgh will be to
develop multiple effective Bioinformatics interfaces while avoiding duplication.
Training in Bioinformatics, including joint supervision, is vital. The MRC has facilitated training
from an early career stage, through summer schools and workshops.
Generic areas: Within the College, the need for Bioinformatics is broadening, and to a large
degree individual groups will develop their own in-house needs, but there is still a requirement
to tap into a ‘core’ of bioinformaticians (as the science is advancing rapidly) and to identify
common needs, to avoid duplication. Some “generic” areas are:

organisation of information - information management systems, databases and database
architecture. Little can be purchased off the shelf and development time is needed but this is
a useful resource

new statistics for new technologies. A core working group with common standards is
needed

analysis - mathematical approaches that can be shared (e.g. protein-protein interactions)

modelling of data.
All require investment, but benefits would be derived from resource sharing. Common threads
can be developed and eventually links established with research teams. Increasingly there will be
purchasable software platforms.
It was AGREED that
i) the development of Bioinformatics technology is a College research priority, in order to
underpin the international quality of our research in all key areas
ii) Science and Engineering and the e.Science Centre should be aware of this and of our major
research growth areas. It may be necessary to further explore a strategic interface and
partnership
Minutes of College Research Committee, 26 February 2003 (2)
iii) the College should establish a strong Bioinformatics presence at Little France, possibly in
the basement of the new Research Institute. Further, designated Bioinformatics support is
needed at the Western General Hospital to enhance cancer and genetics research
iv) The Committee should be informed of the proposed use of the Crichton Street building and
the plans for the new Centre for Bioinformatics
iv) Directors of Research Centres will be approached to provide details of their plans and
anticipated needs for bioinformatics infrastructure. It may be important in some areas for
research leaders to be made aware of how the adaptation of new developments in
informatics could greatly enhance their research, and the Convener has proposed a
“Bioinformatics Research Day”
vi) possible priority areas for investment in the near future are quantitative genetics and
imaging.
5.
Framework VI
Deferred until the next meeting.
6.
Strategic use of College scholarships and fellowships
Deferred until the next meeting.
7.
Research Assessment Exercise: Best Practice Guidance
Noted.
8.
Date of next meeting
Wednesday 23 April 2003 at 2 pm in the McEwan Hall Reception Room, Medical Buildings,
Teviot Place.
The main item of discussion will be Imaging as a research “technology engine”.
9.
Any other business
There was none.
Minutes of College Research Committee, 26 February 2003 (3)