Academic Program and Course Overviews
BMI currently offers a Biomedical Informatics Track through the Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program (IBGP). Applicants interested in the Biomedical Informatics track should indicate so on their application to the IBGP.
Overview
The next major frontier of biomedical science is the achievement of an integrated understanding of biological functioning and interactions between multiple components of a biological system--an understanding that stretches across hierarchical levels of analysis, ranging from the gene to the cell, tissue, and organ. Because of the inherent complexity of real biological systems, the development and analysis of computational models based directly on experimental data is necessary to achieve this understanding.
An overarching goal of the Biomedical Informatics Track is to develop the insights and the technology needed to gather the information necessary to quantify biological functioning and to develop detailed predictive biomedical models. These will be used to accurately describe normal physiological functioning, to understand mechanisms that underlie pathological processes, and to evaluate medical and surgical interventions.
The Biomedical Informatics track includes:
- Training in the analysis of data from radiological studies, microscopy-related imagery, gene and protein expression studies, electrophysiological data, and numerical simulation studies
- Development of models to explain physiological and pathological processes
- Development of database technology, data analysis techniques and systems software middleware needed to carry out tasks associated with the aggregation and analysis of biomedical data and biomedical simulations
A particular emphasis of this track involves the integration of large-scale data management, processing, and visualization with biomedical informatics. Trainees will engage in a highly collaborative interdisciplinary research program in high-end computing and biomedicine. They will also have access to a customized program of course work in biomedical informatics, computer science, and basic and translational biomedical sciences. The faculty in this track have diverse research interests, including:
- Analysis of gene sequence and gene and protein expression data
- Analysis and modeling of therapeutic and toxic drug effects
- Computational modeling of physiological systems
- Biomedical image processing and feature detection
- Visualization and development of database, data mining and data exploration algorithms and middleware
The IBGP core curriculum provides an excellent foundation for the biological insights needed by graduate students in biomedical informatics. A combination of specialized courses of the track with supplementary Computer and Information Science courses gives students an in-depth understanding of the concepts and techniques associated with biomedical informatics.
Curriculum
Required Courses
Students are required to satisfy all of the core requirements of IBGP and continue to attend and participate in IBGP-797. In addition to these IBGP requirements, students in the Biomedical Informatics track must complete the following courses:
IBGP 730 Advanced Topics in Biomedical Informatics The objectives of this course are to introduce students to biological modeling, visualization techniques, image guided surgery and surgical simulations, and interpretation of gene array and proteomic data, and to give hands-on experience in these areas.
IBGP 731
(OSU schedule course description)
(course availability)
Advanced Topics in Biomedical Data Management The primary objective of
this course is to introduce students to current and historical research
in database and systems design motivated by biomedical informatics. The
main emphasis of this course is on investigation of software systems
and techniques: 1) to query and manage distributed biomedical databases,
and 2) to efficiently store, access and analyze large biomedical datasets.
Possible elective courses:
- CSE 360 Introduction to Computer Systems
- CSE 621 Introduction to High Performance Computing
- CSE 660 Introduction to Operating Systems
- CSE 662 Operating System Laboratory
- CSE 670 Introduction to Database Systems I
- CSE 671 Introduction to Database Systems II
- CSE 677 Introduction to Computer Networking
- CSE 680 Data Structures and Algorithms
- CSE 681 Introduction to Computer Graphics
- CSE 721 Introduction to Parallel Computing
- CSE 781 Introduction to 3D Image Generation
- CSE 782 Advanced 3D Image Generation
- IBGP 891.01 Interdisciplinary Seminar on Biomedical Images
Seminars
Due to the interdisciplinary nature of Biomedical Informatics, relevant seminars are given through a variety of departments, centers, and programs. Each quarter (autumn-spring), the Biomedical Informatics Track administrative committee will approve a list of required seminars given through various relevant programs on campus (Biomedical Informatics, CSE, Biomedical Engineering, IBGP, etc.). All students in the Biomedical Informatics Track will be required to register for a total of 9 credit hours (i.e. 9 quarters) over the course of their studies with 80% attendance to approved and required seminars (unless excused due to course conflict).
Annual Research Colloquium
It is important that students learn how to give succinct presentations of their research in the format used for many national meetings (10 minute, short presentation). Each year the Biomedical Informatics Track faculty will organize such a colloquium, and all students in the Track from year 2 onward will be required to present in this format. No formal course registration is required.
Dissertation Research
After selection of an advisor, students must register each quarter for dissertation research by registering for IBGP 999.