Travel Fellowships

We are very pleased to announce that as many as 52 complete travel fellowships are available for African students and researchers to attend the ISCB Africa ASBCB Joint Conference on Bioinformatics of Infectious Diseases. The organizers acknowledge and thank KAUST for the sponsorship funding of the vast majority of these fellowships. The Wellcome Trust is also gratefully acknowledged for funding ten travel fellowships.

The Aim is to bring African students and researchers together to introduce them to a variety of research projects in computational biology, increase their awareness of the broad range of opportunities that exist in the field, and introduce them to some of the people leading this research internationally.

Funding and Eligibility:

APPLICATION FORM: CLICK HERE

Sponsors

KAUST - King Abdullah Univsersity of Science and Technology

Ministry of Health - Mali

CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique

The Wellcome Trust

ICSU - International Council for Science

NIAID - National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases

EMBnet -- European Molecular Biology Network

Travel Information

• Hotel Information
• Destination Information
• Local Travel
• Local Laws and Customs
• Entry Visa and Vaccine Requirements
• Health
• General

Hotel Information

The conference will take place at:

AZALAI HOTEL SALAM
Quartier du Fleuve - BP 104 - Bamako – Mali
Tél : + (223) 20 22 12 00 Fax : + (223) 20 22 36 37
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: http://www.azalaihotels.com/salam.php
Group room rate: 75,000 FCFA (approximately 116 euros)

A limited number of rooms have been set aside at this discounted rate. To reserve a room at the Azalai Hotel Salam you must send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. providing your name, arrival and departure dates, and mention you are reserving a room for the "Bioinformatics Conference" at the discounted room rate of 75,000 FCA (normal rates are 90,000 and if you do not mention the conference you will not be offered the group rate). A one night deposit is required at the time of reservation and can be made with a credit card (Visa or American Express only), or by wire transfer. Please contact Seydou Doumbia This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you require the wire transfer details.

Several additional area hotel options recommended by the local organizers are noted below. In all cases, reservations are accepted by phone, fax or email (be sure to follow up on faxed or emailed reservations to ensure a confirmation is received) and you should mention "Bioinformatics conference" to secure the rates noted below if rooms are available at the time of your reservation request. . If you are having any problems making a reservation at the hotel of your choice, please contact Seydou Doumbia This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for assistance. An alternate selection may be necessary if the hotel sells out.

HOTEL MASSALEY
Hamdallaye ACI 2000 - BP E 3245 - Bamako – Mali
Tél : + (223) 20 29 46 58 or + (223) 20 29 46 59 or + (223) 20 29 54 56 // Fax : + (223) 20 29 50 53
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. (use this email for making reservations)
Website: www.afribone.net.ml/massaley/index.html
Room rate: 40,000 FCFA (approximately 62 euros)

HOTEL LES COLONNES
ACI 2000 - Hamdallaye - Avenue du Mali - Bamako – Mali
Tél : + (223) 20 23 46 29 // Fax : + (223) 20 23 46 28
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: www.hotellescolonnes2002.com
Room rates: 22,000-27,500 FCFA (rate ranges from ~34-42 euros)

HOTEL COLUMBUS
Hamdallaye ACI 2000 - Bamako – Mali
Tél : + (223) 20 29 68 83 Fax : + (223) 20 29 68 84
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  cc: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: None.
Group room rate: ~26,000-30,000 FCFA (rate ranges from ~40-45 euros)

HOTEL MIRABEAU
Quartier du Fleuve - Rue 311 - BP E 3506 - Bamako – Mali
Tél : + (223) 20 23 53 19 // Fax : + (223) 20 23 11 77
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: None, although the local organizers consider this hotel to be very nice.
Room rates (including breakfast): ~46,000 FCFA (approximately 70 euros)

LAICO EL FAROUK BAMAKO HOTEL (online reservations also accepted through hotel website - select the El Farouk Bamako Hotel from drop down list (hotel is ~1-2km from Hotel Salam)
Boulevard du 22 Octobre 1945 - Quartier du Fleuve - BP E 1560 - Bamako – Mali
Tél : + (223) 20 22 30 30 or (223) 20 23 18 30 // Fax : + (223) 20 22 61 61
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website: http://laicohotels.com/
Group room rate: ~89,000 FCFA (136 Euros)

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Destination Information

Mali is a French speaking nation that become independent of France in 1960. The currency is FCFA, which is fixed at 1 euro = 655 FCFA.

Bamako, population ~1,7M (2006), is the capital and largest city of Mali, and currently estimated to be one of the fastest growing cities in Africa. It is located on the Niger River, near the rapids that divide the Upper and Middle Niger Valleys, in the south-western part of the country. The name of the capital city comes from the Bambara word meaning "place of crocodiles". Bamako is the nation's administrative center, with a river port located in nearby Koulikoro, and a major regional trade and conference center. Bamako is the 7th largest West African urban center after Lagos, Abidjan, Kano, Ibadan, Dakar and Accra. Bamako is a cosmopolitan city with vast experience in hosting international meetings.

The country of Mali covers an area of 1,241,000 km² and has approximately 10,400,000 inhabitants. The country shares its borders with Algeria in the north, Côte d'Ivoire and Guinea in the south, Niger and Burkina-Faso in the east and Mauritania and Senegal in the west. Mali became independent of France in 1960. The population is unevenly distributed with 65% of the population concentrated in 25% of the country, especially along the river Niger, which is an important economic axis. The economy relies essentially on agriculture, pastoral activities and fishing. The agro-pastoral sector employs more than 80% of the population

Mali was the cradle of western African civilisation in the Middle Ages. Thus, it is no coincidence that the country hosts four UNESCO world heritage classified sites: Tombouctou, famous for its ancient mosques; Djenné, the one thousand year old city entirely built in banco; the mythical Dogon; and the Tombeau des Askias in the city of Gao. Mali is a multi-party democracy. Since 1992 the Malian constitutional regime has opted for decentralisation, that is, increasing the responsibility of the communities in the management of public affairs. Since 2003 the President of the Republic of Mali is the former general Amadou Toumani Touré.

Mali is one of the African countries most respectful of the freedom of the press on the African continent, according to Reporters without Borders.

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Local Travel

Several governments have posted travel advisories regarding areas in the north of Mali (between 500 - 1500 KM to the north of Bamako). Please read these advisories for information related to travel outside of the Bamako area.

• http://mali.usembassy.gov/travel-warning-for-mali.html
• www.voyage.gc.ca/countries_pays/report_rapport-eng.asp?id=173000
• www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Mali
• www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country/sub-saharan-africa/mali

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Local Laws and Customs

• Local laws reflect the fact that Mali is a Muslim country. Women are expected to dress modestly.

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Entry Visa and Vaccine Requirements

• Yellow Fever vaccination certificate - You must have a valid international vaccination card with a valid yellow fever immunisation.
• Travelling with children - For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the Mali Embassy in Brussels.

Requirements to obtain VISA to enter Mali

Mali Tourist Visa

• A valid passsport with atleast 6 months validity remaining
• Two (2) completed application forms
• Two (2) passport size photographs
• Copy of the airline itinerary or flight ticket
• Copy of the green card or a valid visa for return to the USA
• Copy of the yellow fever certificate
• Copy of the hotel reservation

Mali Business Visa

• A valid passsport with atleast 6 months validity remaining
• Two (2) completed application forms
• Two (2) passport size photographs
• A company cover letter with the purpose and duration of the trip
• A letter of invitation from the host company in Mali
• Copy of the airline itinerary or flight ticket
• Copy of the green card or a valid visa for return to the USA
• Copy of the yellow fever certificate
• Copy of the hotel reservation

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Health

• Medical facilities in Mali are very limited.
  
  
• Cholera, malaria and other tropical diseases are common to Mali. Outbreaks of meningitis also occur, usually from the end of February to mid-April. Since mid-March 2007, Malian health services have recorded nearly 400 cases of meningitis with 26 deaths, with the majority of cases occurring in the Sikasso, Koutiala and Bamako regions.
  
  
• You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks. If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Mali you should seek immediate medical attention.
  
  
• In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 93,000 adults aged 15 or over in Mali were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.5% of the adult population.
  
  
• You should seek medical advice before travelling to Mali and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the government you are a national of. Beware that vaccinations and other required medicines will vary widely depending on your country of residence and ethnicity.

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General

• Insurance - We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling. This should include cover for medical treatment and evacuation, accidents, cancelled flights and stolen cash, credit cards, passport and luggage. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for all the activities you want to undertake.

• Money - Major banks and hotels accept credit cards and travellers cheques.

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Submission Guidelines

The submission of abstracts for papers (oral presentation) and posters are now CLOSED.

Graduate students, young investigators and all African researchers involved in the field were strongly encouraged to submit an abstract describing their work. The Scientific Committee has completed the selection of abstracts for oral and poster presentations.

ORAL (PAPER) PRESENTATIONS - CLOSED

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 05 AUGUST 2009

ACCEPTANCE: 01 OCTOBER 2009

ISCB Africa ASBCB will feature oral presentations selected from 500 word abstract submissions. Selected abstracts will be invited to submit full papers to the journal Infection, Genetics and Evolution. At least one author of each accepted abstract must register for the conference. Submitters to the oral track may also choose to have their submission considered for the Poster session by including a shorter, 250 word, abstract in the Paper submission form.

Abstracts are solicited in the following areas:

o Functional, structural and comparative genomics of pathogens

o Molecular epidemiology and evolution of vectors pathogens and hosts

o Host/pathogen systems biology

o Database and resource development for infectious disease research

o Search and design of vaccines and drugs

o Bioinformatics education, curriculum development, challenges and

opportunities

o Systems view of biological organisms

POSTERS - CLOSED

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: 05 AUGUST 2009

ACCEPTANCE: 01 OCTOBER 2009

Abstract submissions not selected for oral presentations or 250 word abstracts submitted for posters are sought for research conveying a scientific result in any aspect of bioinformatics and computational biology of infectious diseases, hosts and vectors. At least one author of each accepted poster must register for the conference.

The conference consists of a single track with oral and poster presentations.

Submission forms are available at https://www.iscb.org/submissions/ (As other conferences may have active submissions as well, be sure to select the forms for the Africa conference.)

Key Dates

01 June 2009 - Calls for participation

Paper & Poster submissions, travel fellowship applications, conference registration.

05 August 2009 - Submission deadlines

Paper & Poster submissions, travel fellowship applications

01 October 2009 - Acceptance notification (DELAYED)

Paper & Poster submissions, travel fellowship applications

23 October 2009 - Early registration discount deadline (NEW DATE!)

All accepted papers and posters must register by this date.