Overview
The Bioinformatics Core (BIC) provides comprehensive computational and bioinformatics support crucial to research advancement at MSK. Our services span the full spectrum of needs—-from complete data analysis and custom programming solutions to specialized resources for computational staff, including consultations, clinics, workshops, and training programs.
Specialized Services
The demand for bioinformatics expertise significantly exceeds what core expansion alone can address. In response, we provide essential training in computational methods for researchers across MSK. The Bioinformatics Core trains new research staff on high-performance computing resources while supporting experienced personnel in adopting emerging technologies such as cloud computing. This formal training complements our informal clinics.
To meet growing demand, we are expanding our most popular offering, “Introduction to Programming in R,” and developing new courses in specialized areas including pathway analysis and Python programming. Additionally, our Zoom-accessible course offerings ensure broader participation across the MSK community.
Scientific Consultations/Clinics
Most researchers seeking bioinformatics support begin with a consultation, which can be easily scheduled with our staff. For immediate assistance, the core offers hourly “walk-in” clinics throughout the year, available both in-person and via Zoom. These no-cost, appointment-free clinics welcome researchers of all expertise levels.
The clinics primarily support researchers learning computational methods or seeking guidance on data analysis projects. Many clinic interactions evolve into formal projects or collaborations with the core. When appropriate, we direct users to specialized resources within MSK, such as referring biostatistical questions to the Biostatistics department. Additionally, we provide interim support for new faculty members until they can recruit dedicated staff, whom we subsequently train and support.
Data Analysis Pipelines
The core balances customized services with standardized genomics pipelines built on open-source software and best practices. We prioritize the development, operation, and validation of these pipelines to ensure reliability at scale. While these tools are freely available, considerable effort goes into making them robust, scalable, and user-friendly—ultimately saving laboratories from redundant development work.
The Bioinformatics Core adapts tools from diverse research groups, making them accessible to MSK researchers and providing implementation support. By publicly sharing our source code, we enhance transparency, encourage collaboration, and enable researchers to extend these tools for their specific analytical needs. This approach effectively bridges inter-laboratory collaboration while delivering essential services to the broader scientific community.
Custom Analysis
The Bioinformatics Core serves a diverse research community at MSK, providing comprehensive computational and bioinformatics support across multiple domains. Our project-focused services include:
- Statistical analysis of complex experimental datasets
- Development and implementation of custom analytical pipelines tailored to specific research questions
- Advanced software engineering for efficient data processing and transformation
- Design and maintenance of specialized research databases for structured data management
- Creation of interactive analysis platforms that enable researchers to explore their data independently
We also function as a strategic resource for laboratories and core facilities with significant but intermittent bioinformatics needs—situations where maintaining dedicated full-time computational staff would be inefficient. Through this flexible support model, we maximize institutional resources while ensuring all research groups have access to professional bioinformatics expertise when needed.