ISCB Rocky '06

If you enjoy talking bioinformatics with some of the most creative minds in the field, AND streaking down some of the best slopes on earth, then don't miss the 4th Annual Rocky Mountain Bioinformatics Conference in Aspen from Dec. 1-3. Dr. Susan Trapp of the University of Colorado Computational Bioscience Program co-chairs the conference which brings together computational biologists in a relaxed setting conducive for sharing ideas and building the nascent bioinformatics community. This regional meeting is an official conference of the International Society of Computational Biology. Don't forget the October 10th abstract submission deadline!

Biz Plan

I've been heads down on a business plan lately and all that that entails. Mostly combing through hundreds of articles, documents, websites. And of course talking to people, mainly my partner Frank, who has first hand knowledge of the industry from a technical point of view. Not that he didn't observe the business side and reach some understandings about it. The bioinformatics industry has gone through some very dramatic transformations, as has all of IT, over the last ten years. Just by coincidence I ran into the former CFO of Genomica at BioWest last week. They had raised a total of $120 million in a matter of months on the basis of a business plan, a management team and a whole lotta hype. Those were the days!!