Interdisciplinary Statistics and Bioinformatics

在过去的50年里，对基因组的理解的增加是生物学中最伟大的成功故事之一。基本上，基因组中的DNA包含基因，这些基因包含构建蛋白质所需的信息，蛋白质反过来又执行生命的功能。然而，许多深层次的问题仍然存在，统计思想将在理解基因和蛋白质方面发挥核心作用。特别是蛋白质的形状是决定蛋白质如何工作的关键特性之一。例如，蛋白质折叠是生物信息学中的一个具有挑战性的问题（成功解决这个问题肯定会获得诺贝尔奖提名）。LASR研讨会在几何统计学，特别是形状分析方面的进步使我们能够探索蛋白质结构建模的新方法。每年我们都会选择一个前沿研究课题。LASR 2006期待在统计和生物信息学之间的接口令人兴奋的发展。我们相信我们是这个国家唯一一个在统计蛋白质生物信息学研究方面做出坚定承诺的统计部门。例如，我们的演讲者Janet Thornton（剑桥欧洲生物信息学研究所所长）和Brian Athey（密歇根中心所长）没有接触过统计学家，我们的目标是让一群优秀的统计学家和生物信息学家一起进行联合对话。研讨会主要针对学术人员，研究人员和研究生。利兹研究小组的参与者将被鼓励参加，但我们将专注于吸引广泛的英国代表。在适当的情况下，从欧洲大陆和美国引进了主旨发言人，以加强英国的科学基础。我们预计约有80名与会者来自各种领域：统计学，生物信息学，计算机科学和工程。我们也期待一些非学术和工业参与者。已出版的会议记录，包括所有论文和海报摘要，将在讲习班开始时提供给与会者。专业知识和研究成果的逐步积累将提高英国在这一令人兴奋的领域的研究地位。利兹大学在统计学、生物信息学和新的统计生物信息学中心方面都有强大的团队，非常适合举办这样的活动

The increased understanding of the genome has been one of the great success stories in biology over the past 50 years. Basically DNA in the genome contains genes which contain the information needed to build proteins, which in turn carry out the functions of life. However, many deep questions remain, and statistical ideas will play a central role in understanding genes and proteins. In particular the shape of a protein is one of the key properties which determines how a protein works. As one example, protein folding is a challenging problem in bioinformatics (a successful solution to this problem will surely lead to a Nobel prize nomination). The advances in geometric statistics and particularly shape analysis from LASR workshops enable us to explore new ways of modelling protein structure.Each year we select a topic at the cutting edge of research. LASR 2006 looks forward to exciting developments at the interface between statistics and bioinformatics. We believe we are the only Statistics Department in this country to make a strong commitment in research in statistical protein bioinformatics. For example, our speakers, Janet Thornton (Director, European Bioinformatics Institute, Cambridge) and Brian Athey (Director, Michigan Centre), are not exposed to statisticians and our aim was to get a good group of statisticians and bioinformaticians together for a joint dialogue.The workshop is primarily aimed at academic staff, research fellows and research students. Participants for Leeds research groups will be encouraged to attend, but we will focus on attracting a broad range of UK delegates. Where appropriate, keynote speakers have been imported from continental Europe and America to strengthen the UK science base. We expect about 80 participants coming from a wide variety of fields: statistics, bioinformatics, computer science and engineering. We also expect a number of non-academic and industrial participants. Published proceedings, including all papers and abstracts for posters, will be available for participants at the beginning of the workshop. The gradual building of expertise and research findings will enhance the position of UK research in this exciting area.The University of Leeds is well-placed to host such an event, with strong groups in both statistics, bioinformatics and the new centre of Statistical Bioinformatics