Dean's Initiative Funds of up to $150,000 have been allocated for 10 to 15 projects of up to $15,000 total costs per project in the area of bioinformatics. These funds may be used for a broad range of activities, including pilot research projects, organization of working groups, mini-sabbaticals, curriculum development, distinguished visitors, short courses, or other activities that would support the development of bioinformatics at HSPH.

The Bioinformatics Core (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/bioinfocore/) was launched last year in response to a pressing need for tools to better analyze massive amounts of biological data. Xin Lu, a research scientist in the Department of Biostatistics, coordinates the Core. He can be reached at 617-432-4915 and at xinlu@hsph.harvard.edu.

HSPH Professor David Christiani took advantage of the Bioinformatics Core last year. He worked with scientist Rihong Zhai and researchers in China to study the exposure of smelter workers to lead and arsenic. The team was interested in finding a pattern of peptide signals associated with heavy metal exposures. After collecting serum samples and running protein chips, the team ended up with more than 600 protein peaks from each serum sample, an overwhelming number from which to select potential biomarkers. To distill the number, they sent the data to Lu at the Bioinformatics Core, who narrowed the possibilities and helped the team find important protein biomarkers. Now, the team has written a paper, recently accepted for publication by BioMetals, with Zhai as lead author.

HSPH researchers who wish to apply for funding should submit two copies of proposals of no more than three pages to the Bioinformatics Core, directed to HSPH Professor L.J. Wei and to Lu (both in Building II, 4th floor) by October 17. Decisions will be made by October 31.

Proposals should include:

• Short description of the project and rationale.

• The project's relevance to the research and/or training programs of the applicant(s), if applicable.

• The benefit to the larger HSPH bioinformatics community of funding the project.

Preference will be given to collaborative projects or those directed to broad participation.

Active involvement in the Bioinformatics Core to date is not a requirement, but funding recipients will be expected to disseminate the knowledge from their projects to the community and to participate in Bioinformatics Core activities going forward.