Interview with Dr. Vinicius Maracajá-Coutinho: “ACCDiS and bioinformatics: Facing the challenges of the future”

Bioinformatics has become a true revolution in the world of science. The capacity to receive, order, process, packaging and interpreted thousands of data derived from different studies is probably, one of the greatest qualities of this branch of knowledge that combines the cutting edge of computing with advances in areas such as biomedicine and the life sciences.

In this sense, our country is starting to dabble in this universe that many academics and researchers, has a great utility and projection, in fact, many call it as: the science of the future. It is as well as establishments of higher education, among them, the University of Talca, Universidad Mayor and the own University of Chile, they are giving preponderance to this race through different routes. And while, We are still far from panoramas as the Brazilian, There are at least five graduate programs related to the area, the efforts are beginning to notice.

The Center for advanced studies of chronic diseases is making one of these efforts (ACCDiS ), which in January this year received on your computer to the Dr. Vinicius Maracajá-Coutinho, who is PhD in Bioinformatics of the University of São Paulo and a degree in biological sciences of the Federal University of Paraíba. The academic, that also joined the House of Bello teachers plant, He was playing as the greater University Assistant Professor, He joined the ACCDiS team to assist different investigations which are grouped in this Center through their knowledge of mass data, In addition to his experience in non-coding RNAs.

Below is the interview made with Dr ACCDiS. Vinicius Maracajá-Coutinho.

What is the current scenario of Chile around bioinformatics? Has it understood its relevance?

I think that increasingly moves more, and although we are still far from countries which comprise the relevance and usefulness of this branch of knowledge, I have my set expectations that scientific and civil society increasingly will be reporting about bioinformatics, to understand how this can help in multiple fields of science.

That, in my opinion, is still a flaw, It is the fact that there are few graduate programs in Bioinformatics, and in that sense, I believe that a good way to begin to comply with this pending issue, is incorporating the notion that greater specialization in the area is necessary.

Arrival at ACCDiS took place from the first of January this year, under this scenario, What are the challenges around their knowledge in Bioinformatics that arise when entering a centre like this?

My arrival at the Centre is linked with the development of platforms, i.e. software and databases, they are able to integrate public mass data. In this sense, This ordering of information will help, not only to continue with my research, which is linked to the study of the role of RNAs not long coding, involved both the development of the heart as in different chronic diseases, but also, with the different lines of study which are grouped into ACCDiS.

What is the relevance of the research on non-coding RNAs?

Before was believed to be the non-coding RNA genome waste, However, with time and research, This has been Demystifying. At least 75% of the human genome is transcribed in some type of RNA, and only 2% of the genome is to be translated into a protein. Others are califiados non-coding RNA a cone, which we already know that they have a leading role in several cellular processes position and, as a result, with some diseases, as different types of cancer, cardiovascular and neurological pathologies.

In Chile, Some universities have been pioneers in the areas of bioinformatics, in fact, in its laboratories develops modeling molecular through computational tools will do something or is different from the approach of ACCDiS with the entry of this area?

At this time we are not modeling of proteins such as some centers in Chile, but we developed softwares and databanks to interpret biological information, this through the application of systems biology, among other types of approaches"big data", It serves for information of value in a set of massive data obtained from massive sequencing DNA, RNA or protein. For example, hundreds of thousands of public studies associated with different kinds of diseases we Reanalyze, and integrating these data, We would have to identify potential biomarkers candidates for heart disease, as well as, It will help us to understand how is the role of these molecules in the regulation and maintenance of the system.

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Journalist: Patricio Grunert Alarcón. ®
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