MAP

This 2 day meeting will be held on September 30 & October 1, 2004 at the National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, MD. The purpose of this meeting is for investigators involved in gene expression brain mapping to compare notes, to discuss problems and to strategize for future solutions. The workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of gene expression mapping. Our speakers will summarize problems encountered in image formats, image resolution and queries, as well as problems encountered inputting and analyzing gene expression data using digital atlases. Key to the success of this meeting is attempting to analyze at least one data set with one informatics tool before coming to the meeting.Maximizing Synergy and Minimizing

Duplication in Molecular Neuroanatomy Initiative

The purpose of this meeting is for investigators involved in gene expression brain mapping to compare notes, to discuss problems and to strategize for future solutions. The workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of gene expression mapping. Our speakers will summarize problems encountered in image formats, image resolution and queries, as well as problems encountered inputting and analyzing gene expression data using digital atlases. Key to the success of this meeting is attempting to analyze at least one data set with one informatics tool before coming to the meeting.

Two general themes will be used to provide some structure to the discussion. One will focus on gene expression image databases, such as GENSAT. Another will focus on analysis and annotation of gene expression maps. We have grouped the participants for the two themes just for the purposes of initiating discussions, but everyone is expected to participate in the discussion of both themes.

Event Schedule:

September 30, 2004, Day 1

9:00 am – 9:15 am

Welcome and Introduction

The first session of the meeting will be a welcome and an introduction by us. The focus of this introduction will be on orienting the participants to the purpose of this initiative and of this meeting.

9:15 am – 12:15 pm with 15 minute break at 11:15 am

Gene expression image databases

Nat Heintz, Mary Beth Hatten, Tom Curran, Michael Diccucio, Charles Stiles, Paul Grey

This theme will focus on the image databases, from the standpoint of those generating data, those managing and developing the databases, and those trying to use the data. A starting point may be discussion of the utility of a non-edited, non-annotated database of images of gene expression. Possible topics: image format, size and orientation, resolution, number of sections per gene, formats for image sets, linking data to MGI accession numbers, gene search methods.

1:30 pm – 5:30 pm with 15 minute break at 3:30 pm

Analysis and annotation of gene expression maps

Maryann Martone, Mark Ellisman, Art Toga, Mike Hawyrlyz, Richard Baldock, Chip Gerfen

This theme will focus on methods and strategies for analyzing gene expression patterns. Discussion will be initiated following a brief status report from each developer. Demonstration and discussion of problems encountered by all meeting participants attempting to analyze data with the existing atlases.

7:00 pm Dinner

Memsahib Indian Restaurant

4840 Boiling Brook Parkway, Rockville, MD 20852

October 1, 2004, Day 2

9:00 am – 9:30 am

Recapitulation of Problems

This session will allow the problems to be reviewed and their order of priority reconsidered.

9:30 am – 1:00 pm with 30 minute break

Solutions and Their Implementation

This session will include discussions not only about possible solutions, but also how to implement these. Apart from technical issues, the manner in which the research community-at large might participate in this effort will also be discussed, as will what the next specific steps will be for this group.