AFRO-NETS> African Regional Training Course on Bioinformatics

[SANBI/TDR Course <tdrcourse@sanbi.ac.za>]

African Regional Training Course on Bioinformatics
--------------------------------------------------

Regional Training Course on Bioinformatics Applied to Tropical Dis-
eases in Africa

20 January - 2 February 2002

A workshop Sponsored by UNDP/World Bank/WHO Special Programme for Re-
search and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR)

at South African National Bioinformatics Institute
University of the Western Cape, South Africa

Call for Applications

Introduction: 

The Regional Training Course on Bioinformatics (Computational Biol-
ogy) Applied to Tropical Diseases Genomics is an initiative designed 
as part of the activities of WHO/TDR in collaboration with the South 
African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI), University of the 
Western Cape, South Africa. The aim of this initiative is to promote 
capability of endemic countries scientists to apply cutting edge DNA 
technology to tropical diseases research. The objective is to intro-
duce the participants to basic information on the application of ge-
nome information and the potential for development of tools that can 
be applied in tropical diseases research. The regional course will 
focus on bioinformatics (computational biology) concepts and proposal 
writing with specific emphasis on the tropical diseases in TDR port-
folio (Malaria, Tuberculosis, Dengue, Leishmaniasis, Chagas' disease, 
African sleeping sickness, Leprosy, Filariasis, Onchocerciasis, and 
Schistosomiasis).

Course Objectives and Goals: 

The objective of the course is to train young investigators and en-
courage application of bioinformatics/computational biology to patho-
gen genome research and development of new products against tropical 
diseases. Effort on the course will also be devoted to promoting mul-
tidisciplinary and international networking in order to facilitate 
South-South and North-South collaborations in computational biol-
ogy/bioinformatics and tropical diseases research. 

The first course will run for 2 weeks. Preference in allocating the 
limited number (15) of places on the course will be given to scien-
tists with strong evidence and potential to apply the knowledge and 
expertise gained from the course to research and also to training 
others in effort to increase capacity in bioinformatics at their home 
institution. 

The course will consist of lectures and theoretical sessions in the 
morning (09:00-12:30), and hands-on practical training sessions in a 
computer laboratory in the afternoon (14:00-17:30) given by invited 
speakers and experts from Africa and international institutions. 
There will be an evening session for follow-up and scripting exer-
cises. Computers will be provided with 1-2 students per computer. 
Participants will receive training materials and documentation on 
main topics covered by the course, and will have ongoing access to 
the support services provided by SANBI. Ten (10) participants will be 
selected at the end of the course to receive on behalf of their in-
stitutions a Compaq Personal Computer (donated by Compaq Computer 
Corporation, South Africa) configured with a suite of bioinformatics 
applications. The aim of the computer award is to promote and facili-
tate application of bioinformatics in research activities at the in-
stitutions.

Course Website: 
http://www.sanbi.ac.za/tdrcourse/

Course Content:

Introduction to Bioinformatics
Introduction to Unix/Linux Operating System
Introduction to Perl Scripting
Introduction to Databases and Information Management
Fundamentals of Sequence Analysis
Phylogenetic Reconstruction
Transcript Reconstruction from ESTs and cDNA libraries
Prokaryotic/Eukaryotic Gene Prediction/Genome Annotation
Protein Secondary and Tertiary Structure Prediction and Visualisation
Genome Database-Mining for Diagnostic, Drug and Vaccine Development
Analysis of Selection Pressures in Pathogenic Organisms
Overview Micro-arrays, Affymetrix, Gene Chips etc.
Providing Bioinformatics Services to Biological Research
Collaboration and Networking in Bioinformatics
Grant Writing

Criteria for Selection:

(a) The course is opened to PhD candidates, Postdoctoral Researchers, 
Junior Lecturers and Researchers involved directly or indirectly with 
research on Tropical Diseases in Africa. 

(b) Applicants must have a good understanding of basic computer hard-
ware and software. Knowledge of UNIX is desirable. 

(c) Show evidence of computer science support in home institution es-
pecially with UNIX-based systems.

(d) Highly motivated to implement and support growth of bioinformat-
ics research and training in home institution/country.

Application Procedure:

(a) Download application form from course website 
http://www.sanbi.ac.za/tdrcourse/ or request an application form by 
e-mail from <tdrcourse@sanbi.ac.za> 

(b) E-mail completed application form to <tdrcourse@sanbi.ac.za> 

(c) Request two referees to send recommendation letter directly to 
<tdrcourse@sanbi.ac.za>

N.B. Applicants are responsible for ensuring that recommendation let-
ters arrive before the deadline.

Venue: 
South African National Bioinformatics Institute
University of the Western Cape
Modderdam Road
Bellville 7535
Cape Town, South Africa

Fee: 
There is no registration fee and selected applicants will receive 
full support towards travel and participation.

Medium of Instruction: English

Further Information:

Dr. Raphael D. Isokpehi
South African National Bioinformatics Institute (SANBI)
University of the Western Cape
Bellville 7535, South Africa 
Tel: +27-21-959-3645
Fax: +27-21-959-2512
mailto:tdrcourse@sanbi.ac.za

Important Dates:
Application Deadline: 28 December 2001
Notification of Participants: 4 January 2002
Deadline for Acceptance by Participants: 7 January 2002
Course Dates: 20 January to 2 February 2002

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