NSERC CREATE in Biological information processing: From genome to systems level

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The core of our program is the training of graduate students to be productive team members, not just research subordinates. Current postgraduate training programs at U of L and in Alberta generally are characterized by a very high standard of science but they have been focused on a limited range of research approaches. The proposed programme will enable the establishment of a world-class training environment for students and post-doctoral trainees in the field of information processing in biological systems, integrating cell biology, dynamic imaging, and neurocomputation. Our proposal is based upon the idea that the next generation of innovators in life science must have a tool kit that contains methods for seeing intracellular molecular processes, for measuring activity of large distributed networks of cells, and for computation as it applies to both signal processing and cellular systems theoretical modeling. Our program now has acknowledged world-class expertise and infrastructure for advanced behavioural/cognitive neuroscience study, neuroanatomy, adult neurogenesis, molecular biology, magnetic resonance imaging, epigenetics, and high-density human EEG. With our recent Polaris Award, there is an integrated group of 5 new faculty who have particular expertise in neurocomputation, ensemble neurophysiological recording of large populations of individual neurons, and whole brain imaging of immediate early gene activation. Our co-applicants through collaborations add strengths in epigenetic programming, transgenic models, and stem cell regulation. When fully established, we expect to be training at any given time: 10-12 PDFs; 22-24 graduate students and 8 undergraduate trainees. Nearly all of the funding will be targeted at graduate education. Other funding will come through Alberta Innovates, existing grant sources and the Polaris program. This training will contribute significantly to a new generation of Canadian neuro/life scientists who are equally at home with a microscope or microelectrode, as with a supercomputer. This combination is essential for innovation in this part of life science and in its application in the future.