The Institut de recherche pour le développement (IRD) has given its approval to the BIODIV 2021-2023 structuring training project (PSF) set up in partnership with the Institut Supérieur des Sciences Biologiques Appliquées de Tunis (ISSBAT), the Faculté des Sciences de Tunis (FST), and the Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM).
The aim of this three-year training programme is to develop, strengthen and perpetuate bioinformatics skills in Tunisian higher education institutions and partner research teams.
Dr Fabrice Armougom (IRD), who is attached to the Institut Méditerranéen d'Océanologie (UM 110) and is responsible for this structuring training project, describes the programme to us.
Why is bioinformatics at the heart of this project?
Bioinformatics is now an essential tool in the biological and environmental sciences. For example, it is an essential link in the identification of new pathogens and biomarkers, and in the study of the taxonomic and functional diversity of ecosystems. Its presence at the heart of the project also lies in the fact that it is a young discipline, delicate to grasp because it combines mathematics, computer science, bio-statistics and biology.
Why did you set up this training project?
We have set up this project because it meets the growing needs in bioinformatics analysis, identified and clearly formulated by the MIO's partner research structures (ISSBAT, INSTM) or the Tunisian university system (FST). Amongst all the needs, and in a context of climate and demographic change, we are proposing a workshop dedicated to high-throughput sequencing and the exploration of microbial biodiversity for the energy transition (LMI BIOTEC H2), or in response to environmental and anthropogenic disturbances (LMI Cosys-Med).
Which profiles are concerned?
Our FSP supports university training and research structures. The scientific population concerned is therefore very heterogeneous. At university level, our training activities will be aimed at Masters and PhD students at ISSBAT, FST and INSTM. At the level of the partner research structures, we will welcome and train engineers, researchers and teacher-researchers through this scheme.
Hana Gannoun, assistant professor at the Institut supérieur des sciences biologiques appliquées de Tunis (ISSBAT), explains her involvement in this project.
How is the Tunis Higher Institute of Applied Biological Sciences (ISSBAT) involved?
A large number of doctoral students and teacher-researchers have expressed an interest in taking part in these training workshops. It is with this in mind that ISSBAT has become involved in this project, firstly to ensure that long-term training in bioinformatics is put in place for the doctoral students and teacher-researchers involved in the project, and secondly to improve the skills of students currently being trained.
To this end, ISSBAT will ensure the organisation and implementation of these training courses and will make available to this project all the necessary infrastructure (computer room, computer equipment, network and internet connection, etc.) and logistical resources (conference room, audio-visual equipment, etc.) and will ensure the successful completion of all the actions scheduled as part of this project.
What will this mean for Tunisian research in the short, medium and long term?
Bioinformatics has become an essential training and analytical tool in universities and research institutes. It is a fast-developing field of research at the crossroads of several disciplines, the essential aim of which is to answer biological questions using sequences and the biological information relating to these sequences.
In the short term, this training scheme will make it possible, on the one hand, to set up a functional room dedicated to bioinformatics analysis at ISSBAT and, on the other hand, it will enable Tunisian students and young researchers to develop their expertise in bioinformatics through theoretical and practical workshops.
In the medium and long term, the know-how acquired in bioinformatics will not only provide expertise in this field but also enable it to be used in research into genomics applied to the environment (exploration of microbial biodiversity for biomass energy recovery for the energy transition, or in response to environmental and anthropogenic variations) and health (epidemiological studies, genetic and metabolic diseases, etc.).
Partners:
Faculty of Sciences of Tunis (FST), University of Tunis El Manar,
Institute of Research for Development (IRD),
Mediterranean Institute of Oceanology (MIO),
Institut National des Sciences et Technologies de la Mer (INSTM),
Institut Pasteur de Tunis (IPT),
Institut Supérieur des Sciences Biologiques Appliquées de Tunis (ISSBAT), University of Tunis El Manar,
Biochemistry and Biotechnology Laboratory (LBB),
Environmental Materials for Sustainable Development Laboratory (LMEDD),
Microorganisms and Active Biomolecules Laboratory (LMBA),
BIOTEC H2 International Joint Laboratory (LMI BIOTEC H2),
Laboratoire Mixte International Cosys-Med (LMI Cosys-Med).