T-61.6080 Special course in bioinformatics II:
Data integration and fusion in bioinformatics V P, 5 cr

Lecturers	D.Sc.(Tech.) Janne Nikkilä, Laboratory of Computer and Information Science,
Assistant	M.Sc.(Tech.) Leo Lahti, Laboratory of Computer and Information Science
Credits (ECTS)	5
Semester	Autumn 2006 (during periods I, and possibly II)
Seminar sessions	On Thursdays at 14-16 in lecture hall T5 in computer science building, Konemiehentie 2, Otaniemi, Espoo. The first session on 14.9.2005.
Language	English
Format	Seminar (abstract + presentation + project work) (5 cr).
Web	http://www.cis.hut.fi/Opinnot/T-61.6080/
Registration	TKK students: WebTopi, others: send mail to t616080@cis.hut.fi. The number of participants is limited to about 25. Major students at the arranging laboratories have precedence, and the others are accepted in the order of registration time.
E-mail	t616080@cis.hut.fi

Introduction

In any analysis or modeling task it is usually beneficial to take into account all the available information. In bioinformatics this means collecting heterogeneous data from various measurement devices, databases, and information sources. Examples of such information sources include genomic sequence, gene expression, Gene Ontology, known pathways, protein sequence, protein-DNA binding, cell state, and environmental conditions.

This course is designed to introduce computational and statistical concepts and tools used at the moment in data integration and fusion, especially in bioinformatics. The course does not focus on database integration, which a closely related topic. In contrast, the focus is on the various computational techniques tasks that enable better inference based on multiple data sources as opposed to using individual sources separately.

Prerequisites

This course is intended mainly for graduate students of computer science, statistics, and applied mathematics, but students from other fields are welcome as well. In particular mathematically oriented biology, bioinformatics, and medical students should benefit from the course.

Basic knowledge of probability, statistics, vector algebra, and calculus is assumed (the basic mathematics courses in HUT). A "Basic course in bioinformatics", such as S-114.2510 Computational Systems Biology or equivalent background is assumed as well.

Welcome,
Janne Nikkilä, Leo Lahti