Strengths

The combined strength of Scotland's bioinformatics research is equal to anywhere in Europe. In fact, more medical research is carried out here per head of population than any other European location.

Strengths and benefits of bioinformatics in Scotland

Scotland has world-class bioinformatics groups in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee, with research links globally and creative connections between researchers. 

Scotland was independently assessed by Scientific Generics, who identified nine areas of key and core skills in bioinformatics:

  • Medical applications of bioinformatics 
  • Bioinformatics and e-science 
  • Micro-arrays and gene expression technologies 
  • Visualisation and image analysis 
  • Data and knowledge representation 
  • Genome comparison 
  • Protein structure prediction and modelling 
  • Proteomics 
  • Modelling of cellular processes (systems biology)

Highly collaborative environment

Scotland's world-class bioinformatics collaborative groups can provide huge benefits to support the commercial development of Scotland-based life sciences.

Leading global company IBM has already invested in Edinburgh and chose them as a key partner for the development of the ‘Blue Gene’ super-computer project.

The Scottish Bioinformatics Research Network (SBRN) is a consortium of universities and research institutes looking to tackle the problems of human and agricultural disease.

Scotland also benefits from the Scottish Bioinformatics Forum which merged with Nexxus, the life sciences networking organisation in June 2011. The merger of these two organisations aims to build on the existing strengths of bioinformatics in Scotland to promote further collaboration and increased commercialisation throughout the sector.

In addition, the UK’s National e-Science Centre (NeSC) is based in Edinburgh. This centre houses ‘GRID’ technology which aids access to linked databases worldwide, and the sharing of huge amounts of data transfer in real-time.

Skills and expertise

  • Key researchers with global reputations, based in Scottish universities – such as Professor Igor Goryanin, University of Edinburgh, and Professor Geoff Barton, University of Dundee
  • An impressive output of bioinformatics-trained undergraduates and postgraduates 
  • Strong links with other areas of convergent technologies, including:  cloning, stem cells, systems and pathway biology, genomics, proteomics, micro-arrays and clinical research
  • High-quality support infrastructure
  • Extensive infrastructure is already in place in Scotland's bioinformatics industry
  • Excellent network of professional service providers actively involved in supporting the bioinformatics research sector – visit the Life Sciences Scotland website for full details of our service providers
  • Strong government support including grants

Cost-competitive