Bioinformatics
Scotland is one of the world’s leading centres for bioinformatics. Per head of population, we have more bioinformatics-specific degree courses than any other comparable location.
Find out more about:
Key people working in bioinformatics Universities and academic institutions involved in bioinformatics research
Depth of expertise
Scottish Bioinformatics Research Network (SBRN), a consortium of 5 Scottish universities and research institutes is helping to tackle the problems of human and agricultural disease. Scientists, statisticians and IT professionals
Global reputation
Key researchers like Peter Ghazal, co-founder and Director of the Scottish Centre for Genomic Technology and Informatics, and Geoff Barton at the University of Dundee are helping to cement Scotland's global reputation in bioinformatics research.
Excellent skills base
Scotland has an impressive output of bioinformatics trained undergraduates and postgraduates. This provides companies locating in Scotland with a ready pool of skilled workers.
Links to 'convergent' technology areas
Scotland is very strong in biomedical technologies such as cloning, stem cells, genomics, proteomics, microarrays, clinical research and is well placed to develop methods in new areas of science at the interface between existing disciplines.
DTI support
Two of the six prestigious DTI Beacon projects were awarded to groups based in Scotland.
- Professor Peter Ghazal at the University of Edinburgh was awarded £1.5 million over four years
- Professor David Gilbert at the University of Glasgow was awarded £0.9 million over four years.
Established networks to support the bioinformatics research community
The Scottish Bioinformatics Forum (SBF) was set up by bioinformatics researchers and Scottish Enterprise, to promote collaboration in the field and to increase the commercialisation of bioinformatics research in Scotland.
Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland (BioSS) is a well established group, which harnesses the statistical expertise of five research institutions.