Mini-Workshop: Cancer Genomics

October 31 - November 1, 2011

Overview

The recent development of high-throughput genomics technologies has enabled researchers to take a comprehensive and high-resolution view of the genetic and epigenetic changes present in cancer cells. These include changes in DNA sequence and organization, DNA copy number , gene and microRNA expression, alternative splicing, DNA methylation, and histone modifications. Cancer genomics, the comprehensive study of genomic abnormalities that promote cancer development, has exploded as a field. Detailed catalogues of cancer genomic information have already revolutionized our understanding of the mechanisms behind pathogenesis and progression. However, the rapid accumulation of genomics data has not been fully utilized; and successful translation into meaningful clinical end points has proven difficult. We are faced with an urgent challenge: how best to integrate, model, and exploit the abundance of complex, multi-dimensional cancer genomics data.

This workshop will bring together experts in computational, mathematical, and systems biological methods for deciphering the cancer diseases. We will examine recent technological and methodological developments that have led to exciting discoveries. We will discuss current challenges in the field of cancer genomics, and identify new ways to move forward.

Organizing Committee

Stanley Nelson (University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA))
Ben Raphael (Brown University)
Jasmine Zhou, Chair (University of Southern California (USC))