ABOUT THE CANADIAN COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY CONFERENCE (CCBC)

Over the past 18 months, the Bioinformatics/Computational Biology (B/CB) Advisory Committee has worked closely with research funders to develop a strategic framework with a view to building a fully integrated Canadian B/CB capacity across the life sciences. One of the key items that has already emerged from this consultative process was the interest and strong willingness to organize a regularly scheduled Canadian Computational Conference. Given the fortuitous planning of the ISMB-sponsored regional GLBIO2016 conference in Toronto, select members of the B/CB advisory group were delighted to be invited to co-organize the first Canadian Computational Biology Conference with the Great Lakes Bioinformatics (GLBIO) conference for 2016.

This first Canadian Computational Biology conference will offer Canadians the opportunity to bring stakeholders together to explore the possibility of an action plan for the formation of a national network, including how it needs to be structured and funded to ensure its sustainability. By establishing a Canadian B/CB conference the research community and stakeholders have the opportunity to build an integrated community that is linked to International initiatives. We look forward to the meeting serving as a platform upon which like-minded individuals will inform others on the potential benefits that such a meeting would bring to the B/CB community in Canada.

In addition to gathering the National and US/Canadian great lakes community in this inaugural Canadian Computational Biology conference, we have the opportunity to put together an exciting scientific program and venue that will benefit students, scientists and managers at all level of people through the proceedings at this conference. As the first launch of the Canadian conference, the organizers are grateful for the considerable organizational support and experience of the International Society of Computational Biology and the local chapter of the Great Lakes Bioinformatics conference, who have done much to assist the Canadian meeting.

Since the beginning of this initiative, both Genome Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (through the Institute of Genetics and its B/CB sub-committee) have been steadfast in their support of this community. While it is clear that there remains much work to be done, both organizations have participated in a vision that brings the Canadian community together. Without their sponsorships, support and assistance the Canadian conference would not have been possible.

Keeping up with the needs of the life sciences community for innovative and increasingly complex algorithms, tools and databases is surpassing existing researcher capacity. There is a pressing need to coordinate and integrate what is currently being done in Canada to be able to meet the demands of the user community. The establishment of this national conference is the first step in coordinating our efforts within the B/CB community, in collaboration with research funders, infrastructure providers, users and other stakeholders. Finally, this first conference will provide the Canadian community with a pivotal forum for discussions as to how best to bring all stakeholders together in support of a sustainable national network.

More details on the Canadian Bioinformatics and Computational Biology community will always be available from the bioinformatics.ca website.

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ACCOMMODATIONS

CHELSEA HOTEL
The headquarters hotel for GLBIO/CCBC 2016, the Chelsea Hotel is Canada's largest hotel with 1,590 guest rooms, is centrally located and just steps from the city's best shopping districts, world-class theatres, vibrant nightlife and exciting attractions. This full-service urban resort offers four restaurants and lounges, separate adult and family recreation areas and pools - including the "corkscrew" - downtown Toronto's only indoor waterslide. Complimentary in room WiFi and use of the fitness Centre are included with your stay.
The room block is now closed.  If you are interested in booking a room at our conference rate, please email Bel Hanson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and we will attempt to accommodate your request.

BURWASH B&B
These University of Toronto Dormitories are located just steps away from the GLBIO/CCBC 2016 venue. These basic rooms can be booked as a single or double, have a shared bathroom and include breakfast. Complimentary WiFi is available in the common areas and internet in your room but you must bring your own Ethernet cable.

• Please use the following link to book your reservation: Burwash B&B
• On Campus Parking is available at an additional charge. Information available at Victoria University Parking

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GETTING HERE

Long Wave, Allen Lambert Galleria, Brookfield Place, Toronto Photo courtesy of Toronto Tourism & Visitors Association

Toronto Pearson International Airport (code YYZ) is the main point of landing for most domestic and international flights. Toronto Pearson is 27 km (17 miles) west of downtown (about a half-hour drive). To get from the airport to downtown, you can:

1. Take the UP (Union Pearson) Express, a brand-new dedicated express rail service connecting Union station to Toronto Pearson, departing every 15 minutes. Fares cost up to $27.50 depending on destination and type of pass, go to UPExpress.com to find out more.

2. Hire a taxi or an airport limo: Look for the lineup signs for taxis. The average cost into the city is about $50.

3. Catch a shuttle bus: Many hotels offer airport shuttles, so check whether yours does.

4. Rent a car: You’ll find major car-rental outfits at both Terminal 1 and Terminal. Most are open daily from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.

• Alamo, 1-800-GO-ALAMO
• Avis, 1-800-TRY-AVIS Budget, 1-800-268-8900
• Dollar, 1-800-800-4000 Enterprise, 1-800-261-7331
• Hertz, 1-800-263-0600 National, 1-800-CAR-RENT
• Thrifty, 1-800-THRIFTY

5. Take public transit: You’ll save money if you take the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Catch the 192 Airport Rocket bus to Kipling subway station, or take the 52A Lawrence West bus to Lawrence West subway station. Both stations are on subway lines servicing the downtown core. Visit ttc.ca.

• Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport (code YTZ), located on the Toronto Islands, services domestic, chartered and select U.S. flights. Billy Bishop is a short ferry ride from Toronto’s Harbourfront district, then mere minutes from downtown’s taxis and public transit. A tunnel is being built and will make the connection even faster (anticipated completion is early 2015).
  
  

Toronto Coach Terminal is the main intercity bus depot, located downtown at 610 Bay St. GO Transit buses service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The GO Transit bus hub is located at 140 Bay St. (at Front Street, just east of Union Station). Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com.

All trains arrive and depart from Union Station (65 Front St. W.). VIA Rail handles most of Canada’s intercity routes and connects to the U.S. via Amtrak. The Amtrak/VIA Maple Leaf route runs between New York City and Toronto daily and takes around 12 hours, depending on the border wait. For more information: 1-888-VIA-RAIL and viarail.ca; 1-800-USA-RAIL and amtrak.com. GO Transit trains service inter-region travel in and around the Greater Toronto Area. The green-and-white trains operate from Union Station. Call 416-869-3200 for more information or visit gotransit.com. For general station information, call the Travellers’ Aid Society of Toronto at 416-366-7788.

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PROMOTION

Click here to download PDF of the promotional flyer.


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Image Credits:

Moshe Dessau



Bar-Ilan University, Israel
An assembly model of Rift valley fever virus (RVFV)
The crystal structure of RVFV Gc, one of the virus' two envelope glycoproteins, fitted into a cryo-EM 3D reconstruction. (Dessau & Modis, PNAS 2013)

Part of the ISMB ECCB 2015 Art and Science Exhibit
www.iscb.org/cms_addon/conferences/ismbeccb2015/artscience.php

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Toronto skyline a night
Tourism Toronto, http://tourismtorontoimagegallery.com/

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THANK YOU FOR MAKING GLBIO/CCBC 2016 AN OVERWHELMING SUCCESS!

The GLBIO/CCBC Great Lakes Bioinformatics and the Canadian Computational Biology Conference 2016

Victoria College University of Toronto 91 Charles St W Toronto, ON M5S 1K5, Canada

The conference is organized by the Great Lakes Bioinformatics Consortium to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the discussion of research findings and methods. An important goal for the conference is to foster long term collaborative relationships and networking opportunities within the domain of computational approaches to biology. The program will include oral presentations, poster presentations, invited keynote speakers and tutorials.

GLBIO/CCBC SPONSORS

CONFERENCE CO-ORGANIZER:

Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Institute of Genetics  

www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/

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PLATINUM:

www.genomecanada.ca/en/

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GOLD:

www.ontariogenomics.ca/

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www.sgi.com/

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BRONZE:

www.canarie.ca

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COPPER:

http://bioinformatics.ca

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www.computecanada.ca

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EXHIBITOR SPONSOR:

www.cagef.utoronto.ca

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www.cincinnatichildrens.org/

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GENERAL:



https://medicine.umich.edu/medschool/research/office-research/biomedical-research-core-facilities/bioinformatics

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BEST PAPER SPONSOR:

www.springer.com/us/

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BEST POSTERS SPONSOR:

http://f1000.com/prime/about/whatis/posters/

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CONTACT US

GLBIO/CCBC General Questions

Bel Hanson
Conference Manager
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: 1-315-767-5568

FULL AGENDA

Conference is being held at Victoria, College, University of Toronto.

Go directly to: [Tuesday - May 17] [Wednesday - May 18] [Thursday - May 19]

*As of May 16, 2016. Subject to change without notice.

REGISTRATION

Thank you for attending GLBIO/CCBC 2016!  You may access your registration receipt and attendance certificate by logging into the registration site  - click here.

Registration is open:

- Online - click here


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Registration Fees (all prices are US dollars)

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