The University of Wisconsin-Madison is proud to sponsor an interdisciplinary predoctoral and postdoctoral bioinformatics training program, funded by a grant from the National Library of Medicine (Grant number 5T15LM007359), with additional support from the University of Wisconsin-Madison Graduate School.

By participating in the CIBM Training Program, computer scientists, statisticians, and engineers receive cross-disciplinary training in biological sciences. Similarly, biologists receive cross-disciplinary training in statistics, engineering, and computational areas related to biomedical research problems.

The Computation and Informatics in Biology and Medicine (CIBM) Training Program at UW-Madison is producing the next generation of computer researchers addressing biomedical problems. This training program is one of just 18 institutional training programs funded by NLM in biomedical informatics in the US. The 51 CIBM faculty span 15 different departments and five colleges at UW-Madison as well as several faclty at the Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation (located about 100 miles north of Madison).

CIBM focuses on the development of novel bioinformatics algorithms to analyze molecular data, including genome sequences, proteins (levels, interactions, structures), and regulatory pathways. New tools for imaging, genetic analysis, and health delivery systems will result. Now in its second five-year period, the CIBM Program has added a unique translational molecules-to-bedside medicine component. In a collaboration with the Marshfield Clinic, CIBM trainees have the added opportunity to develop algorithms to predict clinical parameters, such as disease susceptibility or treatment response, from combined molecular and clinical data.

Biomedical informatics studies the collection, organization and application of information in health care and medical research. There are many different sub-fields within the broader field of biomedical informatics. These sub-fields use similar techniques and tools but apply them to different problem areas. Bioinformatics focuses on molecules, cells and the interactions between them. This includes studies of genomics, gene-gene interactions, gene-protein interactions, and regulatory networks. Imaging Informatics (also called structural or systems informatics) focuses at the level of organs and organ systems.

Clinical Informatics focuses at the level of the individual. Work in Clinical Informatics includes the development of Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Decision Support Systems (DSS), standardized vocabularies for storing medical information, as well as standards for interoperability between different clinical systems. Public Health Informatics focuses at the level of populations. This includes computerized disease surveillance systems, vaccine registries, systems for disaster management and tools to educate patients.

Translations Informatics is a newer sub-field that focuses on moving new discoveries from the laboratory into routine clinical care faster. Systems to improve clinical research are included in Translational Informatics.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Support for 14 predoctoral and 4 postdoctoral trainees is provided by a grant from The National Library of Medicine. Predoctoral traineeships are generally awarded for a three-year period and postdoctoral traineeships are generally awarded for a two-year period. These traineeships cover tuition and fees, as well as provide a monthly stipend for living expenses.

For NLM support, predoctoral students must be accepted into an affiliated PhD program. All supported trainees must be permanent residents or U.S. citizens. Information about individual graduate programs can be obtained from the relevant biological and computational departments or from the CIBM Training Program by contacting Louise Pape, Program Coordinator.

There is currently a call for nominations for CIBM predoctoral traineeships, due February 20th, 2012.

CIBM Predoctoral Nomination Form (for incoming students)

CIBM Predoctoral Nomination Form (for currently enrolled students)