- What is ISCB?
- Who do I contact for information on the conference?
- Where will the conference be held?
- Is there a map of the venue?
- Will I be able to present virtually?
- What hotel is being used for the conference?
- Are children allowed at the conference?
- Will child care be available?
- How do I get from the airport to my hotel? How can I travel around the city?
- Is parking available at the hotel?
- What attractions and sightseeing opportunities are available?
- What restaurants are close to the venue or my hotel?
- Are there any special discounts available for attendees?
- What is the local Time Zone?
- What is the Climate?
- Where can I find medical/emergency information?
- How can I pay to register?
- Where do I register when I arrive?
- What should I do if I lose something at the conference venue?
- What is the policy of photography or image capture?
- What are the hashtags for the conference?
What is ISCB?
The International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) is the parent organization of the annual Great Lakes Bioinformatics (GLBIO) Conference. The ISCB is dedicated to advancing the scientific understanding of living systems through computation. The ISCB communicates the significance of our science to the larger scientific community, governments, and the public at large. The ISCB serves a global membership by impacting government and scientific policies, providing high quality publications and meetings, and through distribution of valuable information about training, education, employment and relevant news from related fields. ISCB membership offers many benefits including reduced conference registration fees to several high impact events and reduced subscription prices for a selection of journals of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics. Members are from more than 50 countries and include over 800 students and nearly 500 post doctoral researchers.
Who do I contact for information on the conference?
You can get information on the conference from:
Bel Hanson
ISCB Senior Director of Operations & Programs
Phone: +1-571-293-2113
Email:
Justine Morris
ISCB Coordinator of Operations & Programs
Phone: +1-571-293-2113
Email:
Where will the conference be held?
The conference will be held at The Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Address:
333 Bostwick Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
USA
Click here for the Google map view!
Is there a map of the venue?
Details Coming Soon.
Will I be able to present virtually?
For a variety of reasons, ISCB strongly prefers that scientific research accepted for oral presentation be presented in-person at the conference venue. Nevertheless, we understand that some presenters will be unable to attend the conference in person.
ISCB will grant remote presentation options for reasons associated with:
- Paternity/paternity leave
- Care for a family member
- Personal/medical disability
- Sickness
- Financial hardship
- Potential visa problems
If your research is accepted for oral presentation and you are unable to present in person, ISCB requires notification at the time of acceptance and no later than Monday, April 19, 2027.
You will be asked during your confirmation of participation to confirm your in-person participation. If you are unable to participate in person, you will need to request a waiver by writing to
What Hotel is being used for the conference?
GLBIO 2027 is happy to work with the Amway Grand Plaza as our headquarters hotel!
The Amway Grand Plaza is a historic AAA Four-Diamond hotel located along the Grand River in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan. With a blend of classic décor and modern amenities, it provides a unique atmosphere perfect for visitors seeking both comfort and creativity. The hotel is 100% non-smoking, and offers a pool, fitness center, business center, complimentary Wi-Fi, and on-site dining options. Parking is available for hotel guests at $25/day for self-parking or $29/day for valet parking.
The room rate for conference attendees is $179/day.
Are Children allowed at the conference?
ISCB conferences are professional events. Children of registered ISCB conference attendees are welcome to attend the conference with their parent or guardian, as long as younger children are under the supervision of a parent or guardian at all times. Parents or guardians may bring children to educational events provided the child does not disrupt the event.
Will child care be available?
Details Coming Soon.
How do I get from the airport to my hotel? How can I travel around the city?
The Graduate Hotel (and the University of Minnesota campus) is a short trip from Minneapolis/St. Paul International airport (MSP).
Rideshare
Lyft and Uber are popular rideshare options in Grand Rapids.
To catch your rideshare at GRR, exit the terminal through door #4 (across from the Delta ticket counter), and go to the Rideshare Shelter on the boulevard. This is the designated pick-up/drop-off point for all rideshare vehicles.
More information can be found here.
Taxi
To catch taxi service from GRR, exit the terminal through door #5 or door #7, and go to the climate controlled Parking Shuttle Shelter on the boulevard. There, a taxi starter will assist you with your cab arrangements and get you on your way.
If you'd like to book online, please visit the Metro Cabs website.
A taxi directly to VAI or to the Amway Grand Plaza from the airport will take approximately 20-25 minutes, depending upon traffic.
The Rapid
The Rapid, Grand Rapids' main public bus system, is also available as a form of travel around Grand Rapids. The trip between the airport and the Amway Grand Plaza via the Rapid takes about 80 minutes. When leaving the airport, go to the climate-controlled shelter on the boulevard across from door #6 and take the 27/Airport Industrial bus line. Ride the 27/Airport Industrial Line until you get to the "Kentwood Station - Woodland" station. There, transfer to the 6/Eastown bus line heading north to campus. You'll want to get off at the "Monroe/Pearl" station, about 2 blocks from The Amway Grand Plaza.
All options above are also great ways to get around the city!
Is parking available at the hotel?
Parking is available for hotel guests of the Amway Grand Plaza at $25/day for self-parking or $29/day for valet parking.
What attractions and sightseeing opportunities are available?
There is so much to do in Grand Rapids in the spring! Experience Grand Rapids’ website has a great collection of things to do in the city no matter when you’re visiting.
You can also look at the Grand Rapids events calendar and list of restaurants, or peruse this Visitor’s Guide from Grand Rapids Magazine.
Be sure to check back regularly as the GLBIO 2027 conference approaches for the most up-to-date goings on!
What restaurants are close to the venue or my hotel?
The Graduate has a variety of in-house and nearby restaurants with a variety of cuisines. You can find more info or make reservations here.
You can also find great restaurant options here. When you scroll down the page, you will see multiple category options for restaurants to be found in Grand Rapids, including places for brunch, outdoor dining, breweries, and unique experiences!
Are there any special discounts available for attendees?
Yes! We have a discounted block of rooms at the Amway Grand Plaza and we have discount codes for Delta and United airlines. Visit the Venue and Accommodation page to book your room and take advantage of these items!
What is the local Time Zone?
Grand Rapids, Michigan is in the Eastern time zone, also known as Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). This is UTC/GMT -4 hours.
What is the climate?
The month of May in Grand Rapids averages 59°F (15°C), with an average low temperature of 47°F (8°C) and an average high temperature of 70°F (21°C). Attendees should consider bringing a light jacket or raincoat in case of cooler days or spring rain showers.
Where can I find medical or emergency information?
If you are in need of emergency assistance, call 911 immediately.
For non-emergencies or general campus safety inquiries, contact the Grand Valley Police Department (GVPD) dispatch at (616) 331-3255.
The closest hospital to the Van Andel Institute is Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Butterworth, located just 0.1 miles away at 100 Michigan St NE.
How can I pay to register?
Delegates can pay online during registration using a Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit card. Delegates wishing to pay using a wire transfer will select “pay by wire” on the Additional Options page and the Payment page during registration to create an invoice. Wire transfer information will be found on the summary page once registration is complete, as well as at the bottom of the PDF of your invoice.
Please take note of the following important dates as pertains to registration payments:
- Last day to pay by check/wire: Monday, May 10, 2027
- Last day to cancel and receive a full refund: Monday, March 8, 2027
- Last day to cancel and receive a refund minus a $50 fee: Friday, May 14, 2027
Where do I register when I arrive?
Conference Registration is available for the duration of the conference, May 24th to May 27th. Registration Location is TBD.
Watch for signage!
REGISTRATION DESK HOURS – May 24 – 27
Monday, May 24 — 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Tuesday, May 25 — 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Wednesday, May 26 — 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Thursday, May 27 — 7:00 AM – 5:00 PM
What should I do if I lose something at the conference venue?
Details Coming Soon.
What is the policy of photography or image capture?
ISCB encourages open sharing of science. As an author, you have the right to restrict the use of photography or any other form of capture of your research. If you do not wish to allow others to share your research, simply disclose this at the start of your oral presentation or add a note to your poster.
What are the hashtags for the conference?
The hashtag is #GLBIO or #GLBIO2027.
@ISCB is the ISCB Twitter/X handle.
@iscbnews is the ISCB Instagram handle.
We encourage the use of Twitter/X at the conference to disseminate information. ISCB kindly requests that you observe the Conference Code of Conduct when tweeting. If you have a specific complaint, suggestion, or comment related to conference logistics, audio, heating and cooling, bathroom cleanliness, etc, we kindly request that you communicate your wish to a volunteer wearing an ISCB shirt, go to the conference registration desk, or an ISCB team member. Due to limited resources and the demands of managing the conference ISCB is unable to monitor Twitter/X fully and may miss an improvement request.