The department has had a longstanding involvement with bioinformatics and related technologies. The advent of physiological genomics and the widespread trend towards large-scale analyses and the resulting data management has driven this need. Bioinformatics research in the department ranges from individual databases and software applications that support internal research projects to large-scale public databases that provide data and bioinformatics tools for users worldwide. The Bioinformatics Program plays a central role in the bioinformatics projects, providing the core software and database development expertise that supports many other efforts.
Large-scale public programs:
Rat Genome Database. Online model organism database for the laboratory rat, Rattus norvegicus.
PhysGen Program for Genomics Applications. PhysGen generates large quantities of physiological data linked to specific consomic rat strains. The PGA bioinformatics component is responsible for the database, website and statistical tools that enable researchers to utilize this rich data set.
NHLBI National Proteomics Center. MCW houses one of ten U.S. proteomics centers. Its bioinformatics component focuses on data analysis and algorithms for MS/MS proteomics experiments.
