Collective Brainpower: Integrated Biosystems Research Workshop

Joe Caspermeyer, Media Relations Manager & Science Editor
(480) 727-0369 | joseph.caspermeyer@asu.edu

Arizona’s Bioscience Researchers Produce Recommendations to Improve Collaborations

More than 60 researchers representing some of the leading healthcare and bioscience research institutions in Arizona gathered on November 18 at ASU to discuss ways to strengthen the links within the state’s bioscience community and to build a unique network for integrated biosystems research.

The goal is to make the region more competitive for multi-investigator, multi-institutional research grants. The specific focus of the workshop was how to advance regional capabilities in protein and proteomics research.  George Poste, Director of the Biodesign Institute at ASU, kicked off the event by describing the enormous challenges facing 21st century biology and medicine, pointing out we are rapidly moving into an age of “Big Biology,” where research is dominated by integrated, “systems” biology approaches. These approaches are needed to understand the principles of biological order and complexity.  The promise and potential of personalized medicine will demand major, parallel advances in experimental analysis capability, large scale computing, and computational and theoretical biology.  Poste’s remarks were followed by addresses by three of Arizona’s institutional research leaders.

Joan Shapiro, V.P of Academic Affairs and Research for St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, provided an overview of the research programs at St. Joseph’s and the Barrow Neurological Institute (BNI), showing how they link efforts in basic and clinical research.  Dr. Shapiro described the proteomics capabilities at BNI and how their resources and expertise could be linked to our regional efforts.  She called attention to the analytical challenges of proteomic studies (including a 12 log dynamic range of the human serum proteome) and how sample preparation protocols will become key to integrated approaches and biosystems data analysis.

Jeff Trent, President and Scientific Director of the Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen), stressed the criticality of collaboration for TGen and the region to advance its research agenda.  TGen is establishing partnering networks to attack cancer, neurological diseases and metabolic diseases.  TGen’s focus on genomic analysis and bioinformatics makes it a natural partner to proteomics research efforts.  Their commitment to translation has TGen directly involved in several clinical research studies and is resulting in spin-out efforts such as the Molecular Profiling Institute, which employs the findings from their research.

The slides used for the different workshop presentations are accessible at the links below.  A summary of the workshop recommendations is also available. Intro - Dr. Mike Mobley Addresses by Arizona's Institutional Research Leaders: Dr.George Poste Dr. Joan Shapiro Dr. Jeff Trent Dr. Laurence Miller Integrative Genomics Dr. Michael Berens Integrative Proteomics Dr. Mark Hayes Dr. Serrine Lau Integrative Bionformatics Dr. Michael Bittner Dr. Jeremy Rowe Integrative Physiological Systems Dr. Larry Madarino Dr. Vicki Chandler Integrative Biosignature & Diagnostic Platforms Dr. Robert Penny Dr. Stephen Johnston Dr. Frederic Zenhausern Integrative Clinical Research Dr. Ellen Feigal/Dr. Joan Shapiro Summary

Laurence Miller, Director for the Cancer Center and for Research at the Mayo Clinic, shared how research at Mayo will shape the health care of the future and the advances in personalized medicine.  Dr. Miller shared the model of how the Mayo Clinic functions by connecting the efforts of the Rochester, Jacksonville, and Scottsdale locations. He described Mayo’s commitment to understand cancer in an integrated fashion, leveraging enabling tools from genomics, proteomics, computational biology, and imaging – emphasizing their openness to research collaboration.

Workshop participants heard from multi-institutional teams that reported on regional capabilities and resources and made recommendations to improve these capabilities and our regional competitiveness.  These teams covered topics including Genomics, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Biosignatures and Diagnostics, Physiological Systems, and Clinical Research.  The workshop concluded with a discussion period where recommendations where further captured and a number of next steps were identified.

Mike Mobley, Associate Director of the Biodesign Institute and organizer of the workshop, said, “We were extremely pleased with the enthusiasm of the researchers to participate.  There were a lot of great ideas put on the table.  Many thanks are in order to all those researchers, particularly those who traveled from as far away as the U of A in Tucson.  This workshop provided a clear roadmap to move ahead and momentum for our collaborative efforts.”

This fall workshop was sponsored by the Biodesign Institute at Arizona State University, the Barrow Neurological Institute, the Translational Genomics Research Institute, and the Mayo Clinic.  Participants are looking forward to another event this spring (date still to be announced).