Saturday, 27 February 2016

FDA wants your opinion on the Return of Genetic Test Results

Here's your chance to chime in possibly make a change or create standards on how genetic test results are returned. 

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is announcing the following public workshop titled “Patient and Medical Professional Perspectives on the Return of Genetic Test Results.” The purpose of this workshop is to understand patient and provider perspectives on receiving genetic test results. The topic(s) to be discussed will focus on better defining the specific information patients and providers prefer to receive, how those results should be returned, and what information is needed to understand the results so that they may effectively aid in medical decision making.

Registrations is closed but 
You have two other ways to participate:
  1. Watch Webcast. The meeting will also be Webcast. Comments can be sent in the mail addressed to Division of Dockets Management (HFA-305), FDA, 5630 Fishers Lane, and Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
  2. Submit comments online. Comments can also be submitted online by March 31st. All submissions, whether done through the mail or online must include reference to: “Docket No.  FDA-2015-N-4809 for `Patient and Medical Professional Perspectives on the Return of Genetic Test Results; Public Workshop; Request for Comments.’”


URLs
http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/NewsEvents/WorkshopsConferences/ucm478841.htm
http://blog.23andme.com/news/the-fda-wants-to-hear-your-opinion/

Friday, 26 February 2016

Amplication Free sequencing. Nanostring @ AGBT16

As mentioned by Keith, sequencing by hybridisation isn't a novel idea in fact i thought that was the technology that might speed up sequencing by orders of magnitude of n where n is the length of your oligos.
However, what's interesting about nanostring is that their tech uses no enzymes in the sequencing process.
It's still in early stages of development, shall keep my eyes peeled on them. Maybe they might grow big enough for a sequencing company to consider suing them as well.

Hope over to Omics! for a more extensive write-up

Friday, 29 January 2016

Freelancing in Bioinformatics? It's happening here...uBiome FASTQ

http://www.guru.com/jobs/ubiome-raw-data-fastq-files-analysis/1210516#proposalModal

Any takers to help walk this guy through analysing ubiome raw fastq files?

p.s. I wasn't aware that ubiome gives out fastq files?


Sunday, 13 December 2015

Kaggle Genentech Cervical Cancer Screening Competition

Genentech Cervical Cancer Screening
$100,000
Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. In this competition, Genentech is asking you to join their mission to help prevent cervical cancer. Given a dataset of de-identified health records, your challenge is to predict which women will not be screened for cervical cancer on the recommended schedule. Identifying at-risk populations will make education and intervention more effective, ideally ultimately reducing the number of women who die from this disease. This competition is only open to Kaggle Masters.

For more details
Visit 
https://www.kaggle.com/c/cervical-cancer-screening

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

JDs: Google Life Sciences (Verily) is looking for a Genomics Scientist


https://www.google.com/about/careers/search?src=Online/Google+Website/Life+Sciences#!t=jo&jid=147445001&

Preferred qualifications
  • 2 years of post-graduate experience.
  • Extensive lentiviral gene delivery and cell culture experience.
  • Demonstrated expertise in both experimental and computational analysis.
  • Fluency in standard bioinformatics tools, Python, Perl, and R.
  • Excellent creativity, decision making, and troubleshooting skills.
  • Strong analytical and organizational skills along with strong written and oral communication skills, as demonstrated through publications and presentations.



Author comments: Gosh ... expertise in BOTH experimental and computational analysis ... 

Verily, I swear ... Google Life Sciences has a new name

V is no longer for Vendetta, under Alphabet, the new Google holding company, V is for Verily. Google Life Sciences division is now known as Verily
The front page is a splash of pulsating magenta and purple with the words 
"How can we use technology to create a true picture of human health?"
Reportedly in Stat News, CEO Andy Conrad said:"Only through the truth are we going to defeat Mother Nature"
Hmmm lofty aims indeed, not sure why you can't work WITH Mother Nature because I am pretty sure she wins all the time. 

Abandoned Shopping Mall Taken Over By Fish In Bangkok Image credits: Jesse Rockwell

Thursday, 19 November 2015

AIA-Konica Minolta Digital Health Hackathon




- AIA Group Limited and Konica Minolta, Inc. today jointly launched the 'AIA - Konica Minolta Digital Health Accelerator' in Singapore. The 12 week programme supports entrepreneurs and businesses to deliver innovative solutions through integrating data to healthcare delivery.
The Singaporean Government's spend on Healthcare in Singapore is expected to double to SG$8 billion by the end of 2015, from SG$4 billion in 2011. 'Digital Health' solutions present one of the most promising growth segments in the healthcare sector, as innovative solutions empower people to better manage and improve their health and provide better diagnostics and treatment options using sensors, data and imaging that are now within the consumer ecosystem.

 To learn about the accelerator program see here 

Datanami, Woe be me