Call for Papers and Posters

Precision Medicine

addressing the challenges of sharing, analysis, and privacy at scale

Pacific Symposium on Biocomputing Session

January 3-7, 2020 

Fairmont Orchid Resort, Kohala Coast

The Big Island of Hawaii, U.S.A.

Motivation 

Rapid advances in sequencing, omics technologies, biosensors, and mobile health tracking devices are opening up new vistas of personal biomedical and health data. To achieve the vaunted goals of precision medicine and go from measurement to clinical translation, substantial gains must be made in methods for data integration, analysis, model development, and interpretation. We welcome all submissions relevant to this exciting and growing area of research. 

Session Topics

We invite contributions in a broad range of computational topics applicable to precision medicine research, both in and outside the clinic. The session is expected to cover original research and methodology related to precision medicine’s most pressing or anticipated problems or needs related to human health.

Examples of topics within the scope of this session include but are not limited to: 

  • Methods or approaches to clinically annotate and interpret genotype, sequence, and/or integrated omic data (e.g., identify possible compounds for individual patient treatment).
  • Methods for the incorporation of lifestyle (e.g., using wearable devices), environmental, and electronic health record (EHR) data to identify signatures of health and phenotypic outcomes.
  • Studies of populations from diverse genetic and environmental backgrounds (e.g., methods for multi-ethnic analyses to identify genomic contributors that explain observed health disparities).
  • Development of causal or predictive models for genotype, gene expression, disease labels and intermediate phenotypes across populations.
  • Methodology for making use of rare and low frequency variants arising from genotyping and sequencing platforms.
  • Computational methods for estimating and/or incorporating genetic ancestry for genomic discovery or precision medicine implementation.
  • Methods for incorporating data from biological perturbations generated by advanced genome editing techniques into predictive or integrative models, ideally across many phenotype layers including EHR.
  • Methods for the analysis of personal omics (e.g., metabolome, host-microbiome), EHR, and lifestyle data.
  • Methods dedicated to efficient personal omics, EHR, and lifestyle data sharing.
  • Methods that enable data and model sharing of personal or biomedical data while preserving patient privacy.

Session Organizers

Steven Brenner, University of California, Berkeley; brenner@compbio.berleley.edu

Martha Bulyk, Brigham & Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School; mlbulyk@genetics.med.harvard.edu

Dana Crawford, Case Western Reserve University; dcc64@case.edu

Alexander Morgan, Khosla Ventures; alex@khoslaventures.com

Predrag Radivojac, Northeastern University; predrag@northeastern.edu

Nicholas Tatonetti, Columbia University; npt2105@cumc.columbia.edu

Submission Information

The submitted papers are fully reviewed and accepted on a competitive basis.

Important Dates 

Paper submissions due: August 5, 2019 (no extensions will be granted)

Notification of paper acceptance: September 13, 2019

Camera-ready final paper deadline: October 1, 2019

Deadline for poster abstract submission: November 15, 2019

Paper Format and Submission Portal

Please see the PSB paper format template and instructions at http://psb.stanford.edu/psb-online/psb-submit

Paper Submissions

Unlike the abstracts at most biology conferences, papers in the PSB proceedings are archival, rigorously peer-reviewed publications. PSB publications are Open Access and linked directly from MEDLINE/PubMed and Google Scholar for wide accessibility. They should be thought of as short journal articles that may be cited on CVs and grant reports.

Travel Fellowships for Trainees

PSB traditionally provides fellowships for select trainees. The application process opens upon paper acceptance. Individuals from underrepresented communities are particularly encouraged to participate in the conference and apply for travel support. 

Poster Format

Poster presenters will be provided with an easel and a poster board 32"W x 40"H (80x100cm). One poster from each paid participant is permitted. See the submission portal web site for the instructions regarding poster submissions.

Last updated: March 26, 2019