Memorial Sloan-Kettering clinical and basic researchers with questions about biomedical research methods now can visit a weekly walk-in clinic hosted by staff from the Bioinformatics Core Facility.
Bioinformatics methods are used by researchers from many disciplines when a large volume of biological information requires the use of computers to organize and interpret that information in order to analyze and answer a range of questions. Bioinformatics attempts to give researchers diagnostic and therapeutic insights into the disease process by using mathematical algorithms, computational methods, and information systems that can shape and dissect biomedical data at the scale of the molecule, cell, and organism. And yet, while sophisticated software can complement and strengthen traditional laboratory and clinical research, questions often arise about how to best use the methodology when developing a study and then how to employ the data that are generated.
"In a modern laboratory, bioinformatics and computational methods are essential," said Alex E. Lash, Director of Memorial Sloan-Kettering's Bioinformatics Core. "With all the data available, it's very important for people in the laboratory to feel comfortable with these incredibly useful methods of research so that they become routine."
Established in 2003, the Bioinformatics Core Facility was created to consult and collaborate with Memorial Sloan-Kettering researchers on a range of analyses that are used in the clinical and laboratory setting. The facility also develops software tools and databases that can be used by the entire Memorial Sloan-Kettering research community.
The walk-in clinic was designed as a resource for researchers who want to learn more about bioinformatics techniques. Staffed by members of the core facility who have expertise in both biology and software development, the clinic is a chance for investigators to work one on one with staff on questions. Subjects include experiment design, publicly available software and databases, microarray and other high-throughput data analyses, sequence analysis, and protein structure.
"I found the clinic useful as a way to discuss and think through a data processing issue we had," said Frances Weis-Garcia, Manager of the Monoclonal Antibody Core Facility. "I worked with a bioinformatics staff member who easily grasped what we needed to accomplish and helped me find my way to a solution."
"To me, the clinic serves two purposes," Dr. Weis-Garcia continued. "First, it allows its staff members to share and build upon their specialized knowledge base with other members of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering research community. Second, it gives its staff the unique opportunity to see what the researchers need."
If a question cannot be answered during the clinic, the bioinformatics staff member will refer a researcher to someone in the core facility with the required expertise or to another core facility or Memorial Sloan-Kettering investigator if appropriate. The clinic also serves as a way for the Bioinformatics Core to inform a wider audience within the institution about the services it offers.
"The walk-in clinic is a valuable extension of the core's service component, allowing the staff to be very approachable and offer help in a casual and collegial environment," Dr. Weis-Garcia said.
Dr. Lash emphasizes that his goal is to make the facility's services as convenient as possible for researchers to use.
