Forum to Examine Bioinformatics and Health Care

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo Niagara's top talent in biomedical informatics will educate and network with the region's technology community from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 31 at the Western New York Technology and Biomedical Informatics Forum in the Niagara Falls Conference Center, 101 Old Falls St., Niagara Falls.

Norma J. Nowak, Ph.D., director of scientific planning for the University at Buffalo's New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, will be joined by key collaborators with the center in explaining the basic relationships between bioinformatics and health care.

"By bringing together the expertise of scientists and information technology professionals, we can explore new ways to cure diseases and improve health," said Nowak, who is renowned for her contributions to the Human Genome Project.

The biomedical informatics track will be one of several presentation tracks at the forum, which also will include a luncheon keynote address by David Henderson, Ph.D., an engineer from General Electric Global Research who leads cutting-edge efforts in biomedical informatics aimed at improving the management of Alzheimer's disease.

The forum evolved when Niagara County, looking for ways to bring industry representatives together to spur new opportunities, revived in 2001 what had been a downtown Buffalo technology event. Coupled with the emerging regional bioeconomy and New York State's establishment of the Center of Excellence, the forum has grown each year with nearly 400 attendees last year gathering to address Buffalo Niagara's expanding biotechnology and information technology business focus.

"The local information technology industry has a track record of innovation, and in Western New York we are fortunate to have what may be popularly known as 'bioinformatics' to fuel a new wave of activity that brings the information technology and research communities together," said Bruce A. Holm, Ph.D., executive director of the New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences and UB senior vice provost.

The center joined efforts with regional partners BuffLink and infoTech Niagara and Niagara County in the forum, which is drawing the increasing attention of global health-care and technology heavyweights such as Oracle Corp. and General Electric.

The forum is open to the general public at no charge, but registration is required at www.niagaracounty.com. Participants receive admission to more than 25 executive presentations by technology, research and academic leaders, admission to the exhibit floor with nearly 60 vendors and student poster presentations and refreshments including the breakfast buffet, luncheon and networking cocktail session.

The New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics & Life Sciences was launched on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus in 2002 through more than $200 million dollars in funding from state, federal and philanthropic sources to create a hub of life sciences expertise in Upstate New York. The participating institutions have a history of more than 100 years of work in life sciences research and discovery through the University at Buffalo, as the lead academic organization, and its two partners, Roswell Park Cancer Institute and Hauptman-Woodward Medical Research Institute. The Center of Excellence is actively building relationships with corporate partners in line with its scientific and economic development mission.