Bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary science that uses mathematical approaches and computer-aided methods to answer questions from bioscientific research, especially those at a molecular level. It makes a significant contribution to gaining numerous fundamental insights and developing new applications for modern biology and medicine. Many applications and research areas in the life sciences are inconceivable without bioinformatics methods: DNA sequence analysis, comparative genome analysis, biological databases, microarray experiments, structure and function elucidation of proteins, molecular docking and drug discovery as well as systems biology are among the most important.
Today, bioinformatics students are enrolled at around 30 universities. The members of the specialist group are closely involved in this development by contributing to training and the organisation of teaching. However, they also always recognise the need to adapt the range of courses on offer in the light of rapidly changing demand. The first scientific conference in Germany, which focussed on the potential of information technology for biological research, was held in Braunschweig in 1985. This eventually developed into the German Conference on Bioinformatics (GCB), which has since been held annually at various university locations in Germany. With around 300 participants, the conference enjoys great interest and has long been the largest national event of its kind in Europe.
The Gesellschaft für Chemische Technik und Biotechnologie e.V. (DECHEMA), the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie e.V. (GBM), the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology e.V. (GBM), the Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker e.V. (GDCh) and the Gesellschaft für Informatik e.V. (GI) agreed in May 2014 to merge the activities of their specialist groups in the field of informatics in the life sciences into the Joint Bioinformatics Specialist Group. The members of the previous Bioinformatics Specialist Groups are now part of the Joint Bioinformatics Specialist Group. The German Society for Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology e.V. (GMDS) joined in autumn 2015 and the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM) joined in May 2019.
The Joint Bioinformatics Section is not a specialised section within the meaning of the GDCh statutes.
The composition of the current Advisory Board can be found here
Contact person is
Dr Karsten Schürrle
+49 69 7564-162
schuerrle@dechema.de