ISCB Affiliated Groups

CENTRAL and SOUTH AMERICA
ASSOCIAçãO BRASILEIRA DE BIOINFORMáTICA E BIOLOGIA COMPUTACIONAL (AB3C)

Associação Brasileira de Bioinformática e Biologia Computacional (AB3C)
Provisional Tier Affiliate
https://ab3c.org.br/

Contact: Marcelo Brandão (UNICAMP), President
<This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.>

Geographical area included: Brazil

Leadership Structure: Composition of the Executive Board for the three-year term 2024/2026:
Marcelo Brandão (UNICAMP), President
Fabrício Martins Lopes (UTFPR), Vice President
Nicole Scherer (INCA), First Secretary
Ana Carolina Guimarães (Fiocruz/RJ), Second Secretary
Sávio Farias (UFPB), Treasurer
Helder Nakaya (Instituto Israelita de Ensino e Pesquisa Albert Einstein), Second Treasurer

Goals: AB3C began its activities in 2004 with the aim of bringing together students, researchers and enthusiasts in the context of bioinformatics. Since then it has promoted training courses and scientific events with the aim of disseminating science and promoting engagement in bioinformatics. AB3C is currently promoting the 20th edition of X-Meeting (https://www.x-meeting.com/events/), the main bioinformatics congress in Brazil.

Activities:
https://www.x-meeting.com/events/

Last Updated February 27, 2024

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BIOCANET: CENTRAL AMERICAN NETWORK OF BIOINFORMATICS AND MOLECULAR BIOCOMPUTING

BIOCANET: Central American Network of Bioinformatics and Molecular Biocomputing
Provisional Tier Affiliate
http://www.biocanet.org/

Contact: Dr. Allan Orozco Solano. Ph.D. Director.
University of Costa Rica, Central America, Costa Rica.
Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Technologies,
Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering,
Director PROSIC, University of Costa Rica.
Sede "Rodrigo Facio Brenes" Montes de Oca, San José Costa Rica.
P. Box: 11501-2060 San José.
Telephone: (506) 2511-0000 Fax: (506) 2224-8214
Mobile: +506-83898565
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
www.ucr.ac.cr

Others (Co-founder and Ambassador of SOIBIO in Latin America):
http://www.soibio.org/es/embajadores

EMBNET (Global Bioinformatics Network), manager node:
https://www.embnet.org/wp/embnetmembers/allan-orozco/

PROSIC (University of Costa Rica)
www.prosic.ucr.ac.cr


Geographical area included: Central America

Leadership Structure: Executive Board (3 members: Director, Vice-Director, Secretary & Treasurer)

Steering Committee:

Dr. Javier Sánchez. Ph.D. Technological University of Panamá.
(Vice-Director BIOCANET).
Dr. Erwin Calgua. University of San Carlos. Guatemala.
Dr. José Miguel Lázaro. University of San Carlos. Guatemala.
Dr. Fernando Rodríguez. Ph.D. University of the Valley. Guatemala.
Dr. Pamela Pennington. Ph.D. University of the Valley. Guatemala.
Dr. Gustavo Fontecha. Ph.D. National Autonomous University of Honduras. Honduras.
Dr. Marlon Barrios. Rafael Sandívar University. Guatemala.
Dr. Mauricio Polh. Ph.D. Central American University "José Simeón Cañas" UCA. El Salvador.
Dr. Luis Barriere. Ph.D. Don Bosco University. El Salvador.
Dr. Rolando Gittens. Ph.D. INDICASAT (Institute of Advanced Scientific Investigations). Panamá.
Dr. Manuel Rivas. Ph.D. Nicaragua.
Dr. Ricardo Vásquez. Ph.D. CIBNOR. La Paz.
Dr. Gabriel Silva. University of San Carlos. Guatemala.
Dra. Claudia Carranza. Ph.D. INVEGEM. Guatemala.
Dra. Oriana Batista. Ph.D. CEGEN/UNACHI. Panamá.
Dr. Juan Porras. Center of Hematology and Related Disorders (CIHATA). University of Costa Rica.
Dr. Dionisio Manzanares. Ph.D. UNAN. Nicaragua.
Dra. Patrizia Lupo. UCR. Costa Rica.
Dr. Eldon Caldwell. University of Costa Rica.
Dr. Javier Espeleta. Costa Rica.

Education and Training Committee

MSc. Karla Alvarez. UNED. Costa Rica.
Dr. Manfred Sandi. University of Costa Rica.
Ing. Murphy Paíz. USAC. Guatemala.

Selection Committee

Lic. Luis Davis. University of Costa Rica.
Ing. Karol Jiménez. Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC). Costa Rica.

Technological Committee

David Melendez. Bionic Fundation. Costa Rica.
Dr. José Lázaro. USAC. Guatemala.
Ing. Jorge Balsells. USAC. Guatemala.
Ing. Erick Diaz. USAC. Guatemala.
Kendall Tencio. Costa Rica.

Students Committee

Ing. Yamil Vindas. Master's student. Costa Rica.
Ing. Nabil Vindas. Master's student. Costa Rica.
Ana Espeleta. Costa Rica.

Goals: Origins and a brief history

The Central American Bioinformatics Network (BIOCANET) is composed of a group of researchers and professionals from several Central American countries, that are affiliated to regional Universities, Institutes, Foundations, and Research Centers. Currently, this organization is based on five interconnected nodes (one per country: Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama), with a central node in Costa Rica (Coordinator, University of Costa Rica).

Biocanet was founded in 2011, and their first meeting as members took place in Costa Rica in 2012, within the framework of the First National and Central American Bioinformatics Congress supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Costa Rica (MICITT).

The network had the support of members of the University of Costa Rica, University of the Valley, Autonomous University of Honduras, University of San Carlos, Technological University of Panama, INDICASAT (Institute of Advanced Scientific Investigations) and others. The composition of the network is based mainly on professors, researchers, and students of Universities, Institutes, and Centers of Central America.

Goal

The main objective of BIOCANET is to develop a Central American cooperation network of bioinformaticians, computer scientists, clinicians, biologists, biotechnologists, mathematicians, physics, chemists, nanotechnologists, bioengineers, electronic engineers, microbiologists, physician, experts in genomics, robotics and other related professionals interested in the development of bioinformatics & biocomputation education programs and research projects focused on Biodiversity, Biotechnology, Molecular Medicine, Genomics, Proteomics and other “omics” sciences in our region. For example, the analysis of cancer with bioinformatics and molecular biocomputing, or the genetic biodiversity with computational biology of the region. The network is also open to biocomputing services as training, workshops, Bioinformatics cooperation services, and technical support.

This network has three main pillars: Biodiversity, Environmental and Molecular Biosciences. These three large areas have Bioinformatics, Biocomputation and Computational Biology as an integrator layer providing the technical support they need.

Educational Programs related to the Network

As related work of the network its members have worked in different educational programs:

• Master in Bioinformatics & System Biology (UCR).
• Postgraduate in Bioinformatics & Biocomputing (USAC).
• Ph.D. in Biosciences and Biotechnology (UTP).
• Bioinformatics Engineering. University of the Valley.
• Master in Clinical Bioinformatics. UFM. Guatemala (new opening in 2021).

Biocanet support in Europe: Support in the design of the first postgraduate degree in Clinical Bioinformatics in Spain and Europe, University of Valencia, 2016.

http://www.conicit.go.cr/prensa/boletincyt/historico_boletincyt/BioinformaticaClinica.aspx


Membership

The members of BIOCANET come from different Institutions and centers: INVEGEM (Institute for Genetic and Metabolic Research, Guatemala), University of the Valley, Don Bosco University, San Carlos University, Rafael Landívar University, Autonomous University of Honduras, University of Costa Rica Technological University of Panamá, National Autonomous University of Nicaragua–León, INDICASAT (Panamá), National Distance Education University (UNED), UNACHI, USAC, Costa Rica Institute of Technology (TEC) and Rafael Sandívar University.

BiOCANET is open to all. To be a member you only have to register on the website and wait for a response from the selection committee.

Activities:
II Clinical Bioinformatics Symposium (Collaboration of BIOCANET ISCB). Virtual, Costa Rica. 2020. Participants: 70.

I Clinical Bioinformatics Symposium (Collaboration of BIOCANET ISCB). Costa Rica. 2019. Participants: 140.

National and International Symposium of Bioinformatics B3, 2017, Panamá. Participants: 300.

IEEE EMBS (Bioinformatics & Biocomputing), Central American and Panamá Convention (CONCAPAN XXXVI), 2016 IEEE 36th. Costa Rica.Participants: 1200/60

National Symposium and International of Bioinformatics B3, 2016, Panamá. Participants: 200.

National and International Symposium of Bioinformatics B3, 2015, Panamá. Participants: 150.

I Central American Conference of Bioinformatics (BIOCANET), 2012, Costa Rica. Participants: 120.

Past publication:

Reference Publication (Briefings in Bioinformatics, Oxford):

https://academic.oup.com/bib/article/14/5/661/219055

Bioinformatics (Oxford Academic):

https://academic.oup.com/bioinformatics/article/34/6/1048/4582278

Nature Biotechnology:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41587-019-0053-y


Activities and programs that demonstrate the advancement of bioinformatics and computational biology:
For the year 2019, the network has had a series of activities that are creating the best way Bioinformatics in the region. In one of the main activities of the region, the first 32 bioinformatics of Guatemala at USAC University were able to graduate with support from the Network BIOCANET, being one of the largest graduations in Latin America. This fact demonstrates the active participation between different members of the BIOCANET network to achieve a common goal. Likewise, the First Conference of Clinical Bioinformatics was carried out in Costa Rica in 2019, with support from the Clinical Bioinformatics Council of the Government of Costa Rica, BIOCANET, and the Ministry of Health. The activity was a success, and 140 people participated.

Otherwise, the first Bioinformatics conference in Nicaragua was also held. Organized by the UAM University of Managua and BIOCANET. About 300 people participated. There was a great dynamic of ideas and future projects between Costa Rica, Panama, Guatemala, Honduras, and ISCB Members.

For the year 2020, contribution of technology to the problem of SARS-CoV-2 in the region (first spatial registration system of chemical reagents):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKQb9ajmjmU

Likewise, the network contributed to the framework with the CTBC (Ministry of Health) to support sequencing the SARS-CoV2 genome.

Participation of BioCANET in the event organized by SOIBIO and BioNETMex (ISCB-LA/SOIBIO)-2020:

Dr. Allan Orozco (Costa Rica)/Organizing Committee Member BioNETMex-2020:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aIX4dselKJk

Dr. Javier Sanchez (Panama):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-kxbMCxogU&feature=emb_logo

BioCANET's contribution to the World Economic Forum, for the management of genomic data in the world-2020:

http://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_Genomic_Data_Policy_and_Ethics_Framework_pages_2020.pdf

First patent pending in the USA on Artificial Intelligence in Biomedicine in Central America with the support of Bioinformatics (Scientific Director, Dr. Orozco, 2020):

https://www.freepatentsonline.com/20200111213.pdf

BioCANET will be represented by two Central American groups in the Ibero-American Network of Artificial Intelligence, Bioinformatics and Big Data of CYTED (Ibero-American Program of Science and Technology for Development). The network will be constituited of 137 researchers, 7 companies, 35 groups and 65 institutions, in 10 countries. 2021-2024.

Last Updated April 25, 2023

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SOCIEDAD IBEROAMERICANA DE BIOINFORMáTICA, IBEROAMERICAN SOCIETY OF BIOINFORMATICS (SOIBIO)

Sociedad Iberoamericana de Bioinformática, Iberoamerican Society of Bioinformatics (SOIBIO)
Contributing Tier Affiliate
http://wp.soibio.org/

Contact: Dr. Javier De Las Rivas
Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics Group
Cancer Research Center (CiC-IBMCC, CSIC/USAL)
Campus Miguel de Unamuno s/n
E37007 - Salamanca - SPAIN
tel: 34 923 294819
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Geographical area included: IberoAmerica (22 countries): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, Venezuela

Leadership Structure: • Executive Board (4 members: President, VicePresident, Secretary, Treasurer)
• Delegates for each country (at present 12 members)
• Members of different Committees:
- Admissions and Membership Committee
- Education and Training Committee
- Outreach Committee
- Scientific Collaboration Committee
- Infrastructure Committee
- Foreign Relations Committee
- Students Committee

Goals: See: http://wp.soibio.org/

SoIBio (Iberoamerican Society for Bioinformatics) is an international scientific society, founded in 2009 following the previous work and experience of the RIB (Iberoamerican Network for Bioinformatics) which was, from 2002 to 2008, a joint collaborative project of several research groups from Iberoamerica working in the new field of Bioinformatics and Computational Biology.

SoIBio aims to promote research and development on Bioinformatics in the large international region of Iberoamerica. As such it looks to help either individuals or national societies or groups that want to work in this field, both at academic and professional level. To do so, SoIBio facilitates transnational exchange, collaboration, formation and development for issues and topics related to Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. It is also a platform to interact and collaborate with other international societies and networks that work in the same field: European Molecular Biology Network (EMBnet); Asian-Pacific Bioinformatics Network (APBioNet); International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB).

SoIBio is open to all, either from the academic or the professional world, interested in promoting research and development of Bioinformatics in Iberoamerica. To become a member, the only requirements are the support of one or two members of SoIBio and to fulfill the registration in this website. A small fee is asked to academic or professional staff. The registration as a member is free for students and postdoctoral people.

At present SolBio is an Affiliated Regional Group of ISCB (International Society of Computational Biology) and has actively participated in the organization of the last ISCB-LA Meetings (in 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2020 and 2022). SolBio is also a member of GOBLET (Global Organisation for Bioinformatics Learning, Education & Training).

Activities:
• 2009 Puerto Morelos, MEXICO: ("Fundación de SoIBio", joint with EMBnet) Fundation Conference (October 26-29, 2009).
• 2010 Termas de Chillán, CHILE: 1st SoIBio Bioinformatics International Conference (September 26-28, 2010).
• 2011 Florianopolis, BRAZIL: 2nd SoIBio Bioinformatics International Conference (October 12-15, 2011).
• 2012 Santiago, CHILE: First Joint Conference with ISCB-LA 2012, 3rd SoIBio Conference (March 17-21, 2012).
• 2013 Rosario, ARGENTINA: 4th SoIBio Bioinformatics International Conference (October 29-31, 2013).
• 2014 Belo Horizonte, BRAZIL: Joint Conference with ISCB-LA 2014, 5th SoIBio Conference (October 28-30, 2014).
• 2016 Riviera Maya, MEXICO: (IC fully organized by SoIBio, delayed from 2015) 6th SoIBio Conference (April 22-26, 2016).
• 2016 Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA: Joint Conference with ISCB-LA 2016, 7th SoIBio Conference (November 21-23, 2016).
• 2017 Cali, COLOMBIA: 8th SoIBio Bioinformatics International Conference (September 13-15, 2017).
• 2018 Viña del Mar, CHILE: Joint Conference ISCB-LA SoIBio EBMnet 2018, 9th SoIBio Conference (November 5-9, 2018).
• 2019 Montevideo, URUGUAY: 10th International Conference on Bioinformatics #SoIBio+10 (October 28 - November 1, 2019).
• 2020 Virtual Symposium: ISCB-LA SoIBio BioNetMX 2020, Oct 28-29, (run from MEXICO, only online due to COVID-19).
• 2022 Queretaro, MEXICO: ISCB-Latin America SoIBio BioNetMX Joint Conference on Bioinformatics, 12th SoIBio (November 3-7, 2022).
• 2023 Rosario, ARGENTINA: SoIBio & A2B2C + RIABIO, International Conference on Bioinformatics and Artificial Intelligence applied to Big BioData, 13th SoIBio (30.October-3.November, 2023).

Activities and programs that demonstrate the advancement of bioinformatics and computational biology:
– 2024: SoIBio & ISCB-LatAm 2024, International Conference on Bioinformatics, in COLOMBIA (November 2024)

These events will be announced in:
https://www.iscb.org/
http://wp.soibio.org/

Last Updated March 11, 2024

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