GAP Forum on Informatics in Biology and Medicine

GAP hosts high level conferences, seminars, briefings, online forums and business missions, both internationally and within Australia.

GAP Forum on Informatics in Biology and Medicine 2003

Executive Summary •
Keynote Speakers •
Sponsors & Partners •
Outcomes •
ANCIMB •

The GAP Forum on Informatics in Biology and Medicine 2003 brought together contributors from the highest levels of Australian Government and Industry. Its objective was to encourage executive stakeholders to develop a strategy to drive a sustainable and value creating life sciences business model in Australia.

Participants from 51 organisations included Australian Government and State Ministers and ministerial representatives, heads of Government departments, pro-vice chancellors of research from major Australian universities, directors of leading Australian biotechnology/bioinformatics companies, research directors from pharmaceutical companies and venture capitalists.

Unlike many events, which are introspective, the GAP Forum had a multi-disciplined approach to its planning, discussions and outcomes. The focus was specifically on building an informatics capability for biology and health that would support the four key stakeholder groups represented at the Forum - Research, Pharmaceutical companies, Biotechnology and Government.

<< Download GAP BIOINFORMATICS FORUM report [PDF 881KB]

The keynote speaker at the Forum was Dr James Edwards, Executive Secretary of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - the global, intergovernmental organisation devoted to making biodiversity data freely and openly available via the Internet.

An international perspective on what is required to drive commercial outcomes at a national level, and an overview of emerging trends in the life sciences industry landscape, were presented Dr Caroline Kovac, General Manager, IBM Life Science, USA.

Dr David Swanton, Manager of Biotechnology Development in the Australian Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources, addressed the Forum on the National Bioinformatics Strategy.

Sponsors of the GAP Forum on Informatics in Biology and Medicine 2003 were:

Victorian Department of Innovation,
Industry & Regional Development

IBM Life Sciences

Australian Government Department of
Communications, Information Technology
& the Arts

Australian Government
Department of Industry,
Tourism & Resources

Telstra
Research Laboratories

The Forum identified a number of areas for further exploration, including the following:
• Establish a centre of excellence in informatics in medicine & biology,
   focusing on information based medicine;
• Establish links with key large industry players including local insurance industry
   and global pharmaceutical industry;
• Coordinate interests across industry, education and research sectors;
• Create demand for Australia products and services in informatics in medicine
   and biology;
• Establish an awareness and education program in the importance of informatics
   in medicine and biology targeted at politicians

The Australian National Committee on Informatics in Medicine and Biology (ANCIMB) was formed as a result of the GAP Forum on Informatics in Biology and Medicine 2003. The Committee's purpose is to drive commercial outcomes in medicine, health and biotechnology through the use of information and information technologies.

The ANCIMB will interact with Government and play a role in facilitating policy development and industry growth. It aims to gain an understanding of the needs of the health and biological informatics industry through mechanisms such as a feasibility study, and to develop standards in the industry to accelerate growth.

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