VCU to Hold 2nd Annual Systems Biology Summit

By Sathya Achia Abraham and Sara Hall

Virginia Commonwealth University will host the 2^nd Annual Systems Biology Summit, an opportunity for participants to discuss the future of systems-based approaches in biological and biomedical research.

The event will run Tuesday, June 5, through Thursday, June 7, at the Jefferson Hotel in Downtown Richmond, Virginia.

The conference will target academic researchers, scientists, industry leaders and policy makers.

Five breakout sessions will cover systems biology in terms of basic, clinical and translational research. The sessions will feature several faculty members from VCU, as well as other speakers from institutions and industry around the country.

The program offers two hands-on workshops about modeling and simulation tools for basic biological research, as well as modeling and simulation of organ systems for clinical researchers. 

Systems biology is the systems-level study of biological systems that takes into account complex interactions of gene, protein, and cell elements. It crosses disciplines, engaging researchers in a new path of medical discovery and practical clinical applications through physiology, biochemistry/biophysics, engineering, computer sciences, clinical chemistry, informatics and clinical practice.

The event is sponsored by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Biogene Idec Innovation Incubator, Philip Morris USA, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Science, the College of William and Mary, Nature Publishing Group, Illumina, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, George Mason University, Roche, Applied Biosystems, Beckman Coulter, Systems Biology Special Interest Group, the University of Virginia, GeneGo Inc., Clark Enterprises, Inc., Virginia Tech, the University of Mississippi Medical Center, VCU Life Sciences, VCU College of Humanities & Sciences, VCU School of Medicine, VCU School of Engineering, VCU School of Pharmacy, Virginia BioTechnology Research Park, and the Virginia Biosciences Development Center.

Pre-registration and fee required. For more information: http://www.vcu.edu/csbc/systemsbiologysummit/index.htm.