The University of California is establishing a new matching-grant program in life sciences informatics, based at UC Davis, in which the university and California's high-tech industry will jointly invest in research and training in this computer-based field. The Life Sciences Informatics Program will support research in UC laboratories on methods to organize, analyze and integrate the enormous data sets and databases that are being generated in the biological, environmental and health sciences. The president's office is currently finalizing a memorandum of understanding with UC Davis that outlines the campus's role in administering the program. UC has earmarked $6 million for the program in the first two years. The new program is one of several Industry-University Cooperative Research Programs created by UC that joins university scientists with companies in areas of research that offer opportunities for economic expansion in high-technology industrial sectors in California. Martina McGloughlin, director of the UC Davis Biotechnology Program, will direct the Life Sciences Informatics Program. "UC has a long tradition of research excellence in all areas of the life sciences and has been very active in forging partnerships with industry," she said. "We enthusiastically welcome the opportunity to support new partnerships that focus on the critical area of informatics." Researchers are relying more and more on computers to manage and analyze a flood of new data in the life sciences. For example, environmental scientists are creating and using extensive databases to monitor the status of natural resources, such as rivers and lakes. Neuroscientists are linking data sets on brain anatomy and chemistry to study phenomena such as the movement disorder associated with Parkinson's disease. Massive amounts of data are being generated in efforts to determine the entire DNA sequence, or genome, of organisms. For example, the federally funded Human Genome Project will produce sequence data for the 3 billion chemical bases that make up human DNA. In each case, the data must be stored and organized so that it can be easily accessed, and software must be developed to interpret it. Also needed are computer-based tools to integrate databases with disparate information. The new multimillion-dollar program will award grants for one- or two-year periods for research projects that focus on the development of these tools. Each project must carry a commitment from a private sponsor in California to provide funding that at least matches the funding awarded by the program. "An emphasis will be placed on projects that provide opportunities to train graduate students and postdoctoral researchers," McGloughlin said. "This will enable young scientists to get the research experience they need to seek future careers in industry." Other matching-grant programs established by the UC Industry-University Cooperative Research Program support research in biotechnology, digital media and semiconductor manufacturing. Each supports research in UC laboratories and promotes the transfer of research discoveries to California businesses. The Life Sciences Informatics Program will be located in the Division of Biological Sciences dean's office, adjacent to the campus's Biotechnology Program. Karen Guin is the Division of Biological Sciences' public information officer.