The 6th Annual Louisiana Conference on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics will be held on April 6 - 7, 2018 at the LSU Digital Media Center. The conference is co-sponsored by the Louisiana Biomedical Research Network (LBRN), the LSU-Tulane Center for Experimental Infectious Disease Research (CEIDR), LSU Center for Computation and Technology (CCT) and the LSU Office of Research and Economic Development (ORED). The conference aims to expose Louisiana to the cutting edge of Computational Biology, Bioinformatics Research and Applications while also providing a platform for exchange of information and technical knowledge among Louisiana-based scientists involved in different aspects of computational biology & bioinformatics.

Conference thematic sessions are:

• Cancer Informatics
• Evolutionary Genomics and Phylogenetics
• Health Informatics, Big Data, and Computing
• Microbiome and Metagenomic
• Translational Bioinformatics and Data Visualization
• Virology and Infectious Diseases

The 6th Annual Louisiana Conference on Computational Biology and Bioinformatics is an ISCB Affiliated Conference.

We encourage attendees to consider joining the International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) here

This year's conference is being held on April 6 - 7, 2018 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the LSU Digital Media Center.

Address

340 E Parker Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Conference Schedule:

• Start: April 6th, Friday 1PM
• End: April 7th, Saturday 5PM

Conference Program:

Download the 2018 Digital Conference Program 2018 LA Conf Bioinformatics Program.pdf

Agenda

Download the 2018 Annual Meeting Agenda Agenda 2018.04.05

Deadlines

• Registration: March 23rd
• Presentation & Oral Abstracts:March 23rd

Directions and parking

Directions to the 2018 Conference - the conference is being held within the LSU Digital Media Center. When you enter the building (follow the signs when you approach the building to the front door, there is a round reception desk, go to the right down the hall to the conference room. There are restrooms nearby. Baton Rouge Traffic is notoriously difficult in the morning across the I-10 Mississippi bridge if you're coming from the north, actually taking the old bridge is a viable alternative. Coming from New Orleans or I-12, we recommend taking the Acadian Exit to go down Stanford and then by the lakes, and then turning left in front of the LSU Emerging Tech Center and then right into the Parking Lot for CCT. Be sure NOT to park in any red marked lots, the regular spaces are fine.

Do NOT Park on lake side of building. There will be an attendant/parking officer in the lot behind CCT. The officer will have a list of names. Tell the attendant that you are part of the conference, and they should let you into the parking area that I reserved. They will give you a tag to hang in your vehicle so you won’t get the towed.

Jake Chen, PhD

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Associate Director and Chief Bioinformatics Officer of the Informatics Institute

Professor, Departments of Genetics/Computer Science

Jessica Kissinger, PhD

University of Georgia

Director of the Institute of Bioinformatics

Professor, Department of Genetics

Ben Busby, PhD

National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI/NIH)

Chair of the Department of Bioinformatics and Data Science (FAES/NIH)

Genomics Outreach Coordinator

Morgan Langille, PhD

Dalhousie University

Canada Research Chair in Human Microbiomics

Assistant Professor, Departments of Pharmacology/Microbiology & Immunology

After registering for the workshop, you will receive a confirmation with additional information regarding how to book your lodging.

Confirm your participation in 6th Annual LA Conference on Computational Biology & Bioinformatics by registering. Registration is required to participate in the program, obtain hotel lodging if needed, provide meeting space, materials, food and beverage at all the planned functions. Hotel reservation information and abstract submission forms for the Poster and Oral presentations will be provided with your online event registration. We look forward to your participation at the meeting!

This year’s event is being held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana at the LSU Digital Media Center.

If for any reason that you need to cancel your registration or if you have any questions, please contact Ms. Alexis White, alexisw@lsu.edu

Hotel Reservation is indicated with your online event registration. Do not book your hotel directly through Marriott. Please register for the conference and use the link in your confirmation email to reserve a room.

Covered Expenses

As in previous years, participation (including travel and lodging) will be supported for LBRN faculty, graduate students, undergraduate students, and core members. Other organization members should contact their organization regarding expenses.

For faculty, students, and anyone living in the Baton Rouge area:

No reimbursement for hotel or mileage.

For LBRN participants and students:

If driving personal vehicle:

Provide time/date leaving and returning to your residence/school. Also provide odometer beginning/end or mileage map calculation for mileage justification for a mileage reimbursement at 53 cents per mile. Note: Mileage reimbursement not to exceed a maximum of 200 miles (total round trip mileage). If you are going to be driving more than 100 miles you may want to consider renting a vehicle.

If driving a university owned vehicle:

Please follow department's policies and procedures. If an account code is required, please contact Ms. Alexis White at alexisw@lsu.edu.

If renting a vehicle:

First send Ms. Alexis White, alexisw@lsu.edu, an email for request for vehicle rental for travel reimbursement purposes. Then contact your travel agent or Enterprise Rent-A-Car for vehicle rental and have it charged to your personal credit card. Insurance is not reimbursable for domestic travel. Keep all your receipts along with gas receipts for travel reimbursements request. Please use the state contracted rates for Enterprise.

— Vehicle Rental Size

Only the cost of rental of compact or mid-size/intermediate model is reimbursable, unless 1) non-availability is documented, 2) the vehicle will be used to transport more than two individuals.

— Gasoline (receipts required)

Reimbursements require a receipt for regular unleaded gasoline, or diesel when applicable only to the driver renting the vehicle.

— Insurance for Vehicle Rentals

Insurance billed by vehicle rental companies (i.e., CDW or LDW) is not reimbursable for domestic travel.

* Personal Accident Insurance, Supplemental Liability Protection and Roadside Assistance is not reimbursable.

For graduate and undergraduate students to qualify for reimbursement, you must meet the following criteria:

• Must present a poster
• If not presenting, must be listed on the research of someone presenting
• Must be previously funded by LBRN Summer Program
• Must attend one of the PUI campuses below and have approval by the LBRN Steering Committee member at the corresponding institution
• Grambling State University: Dr. Connie Walton
• Louisiana State University Shreveport: Dr. Urska Cvek
• Louisiana Tech: Dr. Bill Campbell
• Southeastern Louisiana University: Dr. Dan McCarthy
• Southern University of Baton Rouge: Dr. Patrick Mensah
• University of Louisiana Monroe: Dr. Ann Findley
• Xavier University: Dr. Tom Wiese

For LSU Shreveport employees:

If you're an LSU Shreveport Workday employee, you should complete a spend authorization. All expenses should be charged to LSUS. Once paid, you are only authorized to charge 200 miles to LBRN or a rental car and gas receipts using the Enterprise state contract. You are also allowed to charge lodging and applicable city and hotel taxes. Please ensure you submit a tax exempt form for lodging at check in. If you or your business office has questions, you can contact Ms. Alexis White at alexisw@lsu.edu or Dr. Urska Cvek, ucvek@lsus.edu at LSUS.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Alexis White, alexisw@lsu.edu.