The international conference entitled „Recent Advances in OMICS Research and Dissemination Conference of the OMICRON Project” was held from 23-24 October 2014 in the Auditorium Maximum of the Jagiellonian University. The opening speech was given by Prof. Maciej Malecki, MD, PhD – the coordinator of the OMICRON project. Researchers from Poland, other European countries, Canada and the USA discussed about topics related to genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics as well as about their application in biology and medicine. Thanks to these technologies it is possible to analyse and integrate data received by conducting experiments on DNA, RNA and proteins. Such a collective approach enables us to better understand the molecular mechanisms of many physiological and pathological states (oncology and metabolic disorders).

The conference was divided into 4 main thematic sessions: genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and bioinformatics. During each of the sessions, world renown researchers, as well as young researchers presented their research results. Prof. Pier Giorgio Righetti (Politecnico di Milano), one of the world’s foremost researchers in the field of proteomics, conducted a lecture on the two greatest achievements of proteomics, namely the discovery of the Orbitrap and the analysis of deep proteome (Proteominer). Prof. Jacek Wisniewski (Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry), presented a new method used for the quantitative analysis of proteins. Prof. Andrew Paterson (University of Toronto), co-investigator of one of the largest clinical trials on the prognosis and treatment of diabetes, presented the results of an analysis of trancriptome data in the context of diabetes. Prof. Daniel McDonald (University of Boulder) is the co-author of one of the world’s largest metagenomic studies: the American Gut Project. Prof. Holger Sultemann (German Cancer Research Center) presented the newest bioinformatics tools and their application in transcriptome research.

During the poster session, 45 posters were displayed featuring the most recent research findings. Problems concerning the costs and resources needed to conduct high-throughput laboratory tests, that will facilitate the acquiring of funds by young researchers were also addressed. The importance of close cooperation between doctors, researchers and bioinformatics scientists was also emphasized. The participants of the conference also visited the Center for Medical Genomics – OMICRON, that is situated at ul. Kopernika 7c in the main building of the Department of Biochemistry.