Dr. Steven Jones is pleased to announce the launch of the Bioinformatics Training Program for Health Research, with the first classes beginning in September, 2002. This innovative trans-disciplinary program (offering learning streams leading towards a certificate, MSc or PhD) will be designed and taught in a co-operative effort by leading researchers and their institutions in BC and the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Jones, Director of the Genome Sciences Centre at BC Cancer Agency (BCCA) and an adjunct professor at both SFU and UBC, has led this effort, involving faculty from UBC, SFU and BCCA. Associate Directors of this program are Dr. Phil Hieter, Director of UBC Biotechnology Laboratory and a Professor of Medical Genetics at UBC, and Dr. David Baillie, a Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at SFU.

The Genome Sciences Centre will provide the link between the graduate programs at SFU and UBC, and link the program to other participating institutions in BC. The program has been principally funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) with generous assistance from the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research and other funding agencies.

For further information about this program, see the Website at http://bioinformatics.bcgsc.bc.ca or contact:

Noah Stewart
Bioinformatics Program Coordinator
Genome Sciences Centre
BC Cancer Research Centre
604 707 5965
nstewart@bcgsc.ca