Bioinformatics at Rensselaer and the Wadsworth Center
3/22/2002 10:00 AM

The new discipline of Bioinformatics has arisen to handle the massive amounts of data being generated by the human genome program and its outgrowths. The vital role of computing in today's biological research is evidenced by the growth of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, one of the biotechnology research areas emphasized in Rensselaer's strategic plan. The field of Computational Biology encompasses the modeling and simulation of tissue, cell, and genetic behavior. These computing tools, when validated by experimental work, offer powerful new methods to understand the complex behavior of living organisms. Three years ago, Rensselaer launched the nation's first undergraduate degree program in Bioinformatics, and the Institute now offers master's and doctoral programs. In June 2000, RPI joined with the Wadsworth Center of the New York State Department of Health to form the Center for Bioinformatics, a partnership intended to stimulate collaborative research among computational and experimental biologists at the two institutions.