Bioinformatics Resource Centers

The Bioinformatics Resource Centers (BRCs) are a group of eight Internet-based research centers established in 2004 and funded by NIAID (the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.) [http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/research/resources/brc/overview.htm Overview, Bioinformatics Resource Centers] , National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), January 10, 2008.] The BRCs were formed in response to the threats posed by emerging and re-emerging pathogens, particularly CDC Category A, B, and C pathogens, [http://www.bt.cdc.gov/agent/agentlist-category.asp CDC Bioterrorism Agents and Diseases (By Category)] , Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Department of Health and Human Services), accessed July 8, 2008.] and their potential use in bioterrorism. The intention of NIAID in funding these bioinformatics centers is to assist researchers involved in the experimental characterization of such pathogens and the formation of drugs, vaccines, or diagnostic tools to combat them.

The main goals of the BRCs are as follows:

1) To create comprehensive databases of reliable, up-to-date bioinformatic data (genetic, proteomic, biochemical, or microbiological) related to the pathogens of interest;
2) To provide researchers with easy access to these data through Internet-based search and data retrieval user interfaces;
3) To provide researchers with relevant, state-of-the art computational tools for bioinformatic analysis of these data.

The eight BRCs are supported by various institutions, both publicly and privately owned, throughout the USA and Canada. Each BRC focuses on a different group of pathogens. [http://www.brc-central.org/cgi-bin/brc-central/brc_central.cgi BRC Central: The Pathogen Data Repository] , BRC Central, accessed July 8, 2008.]

References

ee also

* National Institutes of Health
* National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
* Bioinformatics
* Categories of biological agents

External links

* [http://www.niaid.nih.gov NIAID home page]
* [http://www3.niaid.nih.gov/research/resources/brc/default.htm Bioinformatics Resource Centers] The NIAID page describing the goals and activities of the BRCs
* [http://www.brc-central.org/cgi-bin/brc-central/brc_central.cgi BRC Central] Hub site for the eight BRCs; provides Summary information
* [http://apidb.org/apidb/ ApiDB] Apicomplexan BRC
* [http://www.biohealthbase.org/ BioHealth Base] Biodefense/Public Health DataBase BRC
* [http://www.ericbrc.org/portal/eric/ ERIC] Enteropathogen Resource Integration Center BRC
* [http://www.nmpdr.org/ NMPDR] National Microbial Pathogen Data Resource BRC
* [http://pathema.jcvi.org/beta Pathema] Pathema BRC
* [http://patric.vbi.vt.edu/ PATRIC] PathoSystems Resource Integration Center
* [http://athena.bioc.uvic.ca VBRC] Viral Bioinformatics Resource Center
* [http://www.vectorbase.org/index.php VectorBase] VectorBase BRC