Call for Special Sessions Proposals - ISMB 2018

Closes: Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

Special Sessions Submissions (Closed)

ISMB 2018 feature Special Sessions track for emerging research areas that will run throughout the conference in parallel to other tracks (except the keynote presentations). In its structure, each session(s) provides a more in-depth look at the subject matter presented. Proposals for special sessions should be submitted via the online submission system at here by Tuesday, January 30, 2018.

Special Sessions have the purpose of introducing the ISCB community and ISMB delegates to relevant 'hot' topics that are not already covered in the COSI tracks. Sessions can be considered as mini-symposia on timely topics, or new emerging area presented by top experts.

A wide range of topics is possible, as long as they are of relevance to computational biology and bioinformatics. We also encourage topics that are marginal to computational biology but clearly will need the involvement of such expertise in the near future. The proposed topics for Special Session might, for example, cover emerging themes that ISMB is not currently approaching with the desired proficiency. Some attractive topics include:

3D genomics
Biological imaging and image analysis
Data compression and storage
Metagenomics
Mathematical and computational medicine
RNA structure
New sequencing technologies

In addition we would like to encourage submissions that deal with the Society-Computational Biology interface. Examples might be “Genomic data sharing and privacy”, "Bringing genomic medicine to the clinic”. We encourage you to submit a proposal on an area that you deem as important to the computational biology community and may impact the future of the field.

Proposals should include the following details:

1. Title (up to 20 words, preferably worded to pique delegates' interest)
2. Topic: Describe the field to be covered by the session(s) and its relevance for conference participants (about one page)
3. Meeting details
   1. Duration (2 hour session, 4 hour session, 1 day)
   2. Expected sessions / topics, if possible with an explanatory paragraph about each
   3. If more than 2 hours, a draft schedule showing how the sessions / topics will be organized within the schedule template, including placement of keynotes, accepted talks, panel discussions, etc.
   4. How presentations will be selected (invitation, call for submissions, etc.)
   5. Possible speakers. This is not required, but may add weight to the proposal—indicate speakers who have already agreed to participate. NOTE: See Special Session Registration information for more details about compensation.
   6. Previous meetings of this with attendance statistics, if held before
   7. Potential sources of sponsorship for the session(s). ISCB provides session organizers with one-day complimentary registration for the invited speakers (maximum of four (4) per session) for those attending ISMB for the sole purpose of presenting within the Special Session. We encourage the organizers to approach experts from related fields and communities that are not necessarily attending ISMB routinely. Organizers will be responsible for raising sponsorship for additional complimentary registrations.
4. Information about the organizers: full name (including title), affiliation, e-­mail and postal addresses, telephone numbers (work and mobile, if available, including country and city codes), URL of home page, and qualifications to organize this meeting.

This call is an invitation for scientists and professionals to submit proposals for Special Sessions for ISMB 2018, to take place at the Hyatt Regency Chicago hotel.

Special Session Registration:

Organizers must identify the session speakers designated to receive the complimentary one-day registrations by May 15, 2018 by contacting This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in order to receive special registration instructions. Organizers and presenters within the Special Sessions are responsible for their own travel costs and if attending the full conference are responsible for the full conference registration fee. If needed, organizers are encouraged to seek sponsorships and/or use grant funds available to them to cover their own and their speakers' travel and registration costs.

Special Sessions Submissions