Hi Everybody,
We are pleased to share the schedule and *registration link* for the *AgBioData
Community Workshop*, to be held April 20–22, 2026, in Olathe, Kansas, and
*online*.
*REGISTER:* https://tinyurl.com/agbiodata2026
If you plan to attend in person (and have not already registered), it is *very
important* that you REGISTER no later than *Friday, March 6*, using the
link above.
Early next week, U.S.-based in-person participants will be contacted by a
K-State travel agent to arrange flights to MCI and lodging (two nights).
Ground transportation in Kansas City and meals will also be provided.
International colleagues are welcome to participate in person with their
own funding or join remotely. Details for virtual participation will be
shared soon.
We hope you will be able to join us.
Kind regards,
Marcela
On behalf of AgBioData's Community Workshop Committee
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Hi Everybody,
On Wednesday, March 4th,12 PM CT, *John McNamara*
<https://serc.carleton.edu/person/53858.html>, Professor Emeritus of Animal
Sciences at Washington State University, will present the talk titled:
“*Integrating
phenomics and phenotypes into agricultural databases.*”
Zoom link and abstract below. We hope you will join us.
Kind regards,
Marcela
--
Wednesday, March 4th, 12PM CT
| 1P ET | 12P CT | 11A MT | 10A PT |
Find your local time *here*
<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AgBioData+March+2…>
.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038356125?pwd=YVFMRElMdEpHZmtObXFvZlA4QVFXQT09
Meeting ID: 820 3835 6125
Passcode: 160683
--
Speaker: *John McNamara*
<https://serc.carleton.edu/person/53858.html>, Professor
Emeritus of Animal Sciences at Washington State University
Title: Integrating phenomics and phenotypes into agricultural databases
Abstract: The United States agriculture and food systems research and
education system remains the envy of the world, and the US Department of
Agriculture and the Land-Grant University system lead the public and
private partnerships that have improved agricultural productivity and human
health phenomenally for over 160 years. The continuation of these
improvements relies on equitable access to trustworthy data, particularly
in genetics and phenomics, and the ability to leverage such data to address
future scientific challenges. In the new article set forth by the
Phenotypic Data Standardization and Management working group, we discuss
the growing need in agriculture for phenomic databases that follow
findable, accessible, interoperable, and reproducible (FAIR) data
guidelines, as well as the need for public policy supporting a sustainable
funding model for these databases.
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Dear Colleagues,
We have some spots available to attend the AgBioData Annual Workshop IN
PERSON. This hybrid event will be held on April 20–22, 2026, in Olathe,
Kansas. To be eligible for support, you will need to be affiliated at a
US-based institution. We will pay for airfare or equivalent, two nights
lodging, meals and ground transportation in Kansas.
Please let me know ASAP if you would be willing and able to participate in
person. There is no cost for national and international participants to
join remotely.
We hope you will be able to join us!
Marcela
On behalf of AgBioData Community Workshop Organizing Committee
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Hi Everybody,
This Wednesday, February 4th, 12PM CT, Pascale Gaudet, Gene Ontology
Project Manager at the Swiss Institute Bioinformatics, will present the
talk titled: “*Extending the Gene Ontology for Biological Network
Modeling*”.
Zoom link and abstract below. We hope you will join us!
Kind regards,
Marcela
-- Wednesday, February 4th, 12PM CT | 1P ET | 12P CT | 11A MT | 10A PT |
Find your local time here
https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AgBioData+Februar…
.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038356125?pwd=YVFMRElMdEpHZmtObXFvZlA4QVFXQT09
Meeting ID: 820 3835 6125 Passcode: 160683 --
Speaker: Pascale Gaudet, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Title: Extending the Gene Ontology for Biological Network Modeling
Abstract: The Gene Ontology (GO) is an essential resource in the
bioinformatics landscape, supporting a wide range of applications. It
serves both as a comprehensive encyclopedia of biological knowledge and as
a key tool for interpreting high-throughput biological data. More recently,
GO has expanded to support biological network modeling through the
development of GO Causal Activity Models (GO-CAMs), which enable network
analysis within the highly structured GO data framework. This presentation
will introduce the GO-CAM data model, describe its relationship to standard
GO annotations, and highlight ontology developments driven by GO-CAM
requirements. It will also discuss how GO is leveraging artificial
intelligence to enhance multiple aspects of the GO workflow, including
ontology development, annotation, and quality control.
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Hi Everybody,
On Wednesday, February 4th, 12PM CT, Pascale Gaudet, Gene Ontology Project
Manager at the Swiss Institute Bioinformatics, will present the talk
titled: “*Extending the Gene Ontology for Biological Network Modeling*”.
Zoom link and abstract below. We hope you will join us.
Kind regards,
Marcela
--
Wednesday, February 4th, 12PM CT
| 1P ET | 12P CT | 11A MT | 10A PT |
Find your local time here
<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AgBioData+Februar…>
.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038356125?pwd=YVFMRElMdEpHZmtObXFvZlA4QVFXQT09
Meeting ID: 820 3835 6125
Passcode: 160683
--
Speaker: Pascale Gaudet, Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Title: Extending the Gene Ontology for Biological Network Modeling
Abstract: The Gene Ontology (GO) is an essential resource in the
bioinformatics landscape, supporting a wide range of applications. It
serves both as a comprehensive encyclopedia of biological knowledge and as
a key tool for interpreting high-throughput biological data. More recently,
GO has expanded to support biological network modeling through the
development of GO Causal Activity Models (GO-CAMs), which enable network
analysis within the highly structured GO data framework.
This presentation will introduce the GO-CAM data model, describe its
relationship to standard GO annotations, and highlight ontology
developments driven by GO-CAM requirements. It will also discuss how GO is
leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance multiple aspects of the GO
workflow, including ontology development, annotation, and quality control.
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Hi Everybody,
On Wednesday, December 3rd, 12PM CT, Heidi Imker
<https://databank.illinois.edu/featured_researchers/9>, Director of the
Research Data Service at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and
Associate Professor at the University Library, will present the talk
titled: “*Sustainability During Instability: Long-Lived Life Science
Databases and Science Funding Outlook in the United States*”.
Zoom link and abstract below. We hope you will join us.
Kind regards,
Marcela
--
Wednesday, December 3rd, 12PM CT
| 1P ET | 12P CT | 11A MT | 10A PT |
Find your local time here
<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AgBioData+Decembe…>
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038356125?pwd=YVFMRElMdEpHZmtObXFvZlA4QVFXQT09M…
ID: 820 3835 6125
Passcode: 160683--
Speaker: Heidi Imker, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Title: Sustainability During Instability: Long-Lived Life Science Databases
and Science Funding Outlook in the United States
Abstract: For many years, life science researchers have enjoyed free, open
access to a wide range of online databases that make data sharing and reuse
possible. But even long-established resources have always faced
sustainability challenges and recent changes in U.S. science funding are
making things even tougher. This presentation covers a study recently
posted to bioRxiv which took a multiple mini–case study approach to
document potential impacts for nine long-standing databases, including BHL,
MorphoBank, OMIM, ORDB, rrnDB, VEuPathDB, WormAtlas, and two that preferred
to remain anonymous. The results point to growing barriers to data access,
a loss of valuable expertise, and disruptions to ongoing and future
research. The presentation will conclude with a discussion of
sustainability models given the current funding climate.
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Dear AgBioData Community,
*Do you want to contribute to the future of AI-Ready Ag data?*
In its fifth year of NSF Research Coordination Network Award # 2126334, the
AgBioData Consortium is launching a *new AI-Readiness Working Group*.
This focused, 6–12 month group will:
-
define clear goals and deliverables,
-
develop a detailed timeline, and
-
nominate a chair and co-chair (if needed).
Participation will require approximately 2–6 hours per month, including
meetings and offline work.
This is a valuable opportunity to help shape best practices for data
archiving and management that benefit our entire community. Participation
also offers:
-
professional networking,
-
leadership development,
-
authorship opportunities, and
-
eligibility for AgBioData Ambassador and Championship programs.
Apply to join the AI-Readiness Working Group here:
<https://forms.gle/B6pZP1aSDzYWScaT9>
https://forms.gle/B6pZP1aSDzYWScaT9
For questions, contact Sarah Dyer (EMBL-EBI).
Kind regards,
Marcela
On behalf of the AgBioData Steering Committee
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Hi everybody,
On Wednesday, November 5th, we will have Barend Mons, Professor Emeritus at
Leiden University, founder member of the LIFES Institute and GO-FAIR with a
talk titled: "*Stop data sharing: AgBioData and FAIR visitation"*.
Below you can find more details. We hope you will join us.
Kind regards,
Marcela
---
Wednesday, November 5th, 12PM CT| 1P ET | 12P CT | 11A MT | 10A PT |
Find your local time here
<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AgBioData+October…>
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038356125?pwd=YVFMRElMdEpHZmtObXFvZlA4QVFXQT09M…
ID: 820 3835 6125
Passcode: 160683
---
*Speaker*: Barend Mons, Professor Emeritus at Leiden University, founder
member of the LIFES Institute, and GO-FAIR
*Title: *Stop data sharing: AgBioData and FAIR visitation
One tap mobile
+15642172000,,82038356125#,,,,*160683# US
+16469313860,,82038356125#,,,,*160683# US
Join instructions
https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/82038356125/invitations?signature=AOYF69Mt…
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Hi Everybody,
Today we will have Paige Kulzer from the Loraine Lab at the University of
North Carolina at Charlotte talking about the Integrated Genome
Browser (IGB) for sustainable genomic data accessibility and visualization.
Paige has kindly shared her slides for anyone interested in following her
talk (attached and also available for download as PDF from the AgBioData
website
<https://www.agbiodata.org/sites/default/files/Kulzer_AgBioData_Webinar_Fina…>
or go
to Events --> Monthly Webinars).
Zoom link and additional details below. We hope you will join us.
Kind regards,
Marcela
---
Wednesday, October 1st, 12PM CT| 1P ET | 12P CT | 11A MT | 10A PT |
Find your local time here
<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AgBioData+October…>
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038356125?pwd=YVFMRElMdEpHZmtObXFvZlA4QVFXQT09M…
ID: 820 3835 6125
Passcode: 160683
---
*Speaker*: Page Kulzer, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
*Title: *Toward Sustainable Genomic Data Accessibility and Visualization
with the Integrated Genome Browser
*Abstract: *Integrated Genome Browser (IGB, pronounced “ig-bee”) is a fast,
feature-rich, open-source desktop genome browser thousands of researchers
have used to explore and analyze genomic data. To make it as easy as
possible for researchers to load their data in IGB, we provide built-in
genome assemblies and annotations for model and non-model organisms. We
obtained many of these from sources familiar to AgBioData members,
including TAIR, Sol Genomics Network, and MaizeGDB. Other database and
genome browser developers do similar work to disseminate genomic data to
researchers, and some offer robust programmatic access to their data via
APIs (application programmer interfaces). By accessing these computational
resources, IGB can show new assemblies without our team needing to
replicate assembly data files to our own servers. In this webinar, we’ll
discuss IGB’s latest integrations with genome data providers and AgBioData
members. We’re also excited to highlight the ongoing work of doctoral
student Karthik Raveendran in our lab who is developing innovative methods
for visualizing single-cell RNA-Seq data in the Integrated Genome Browser
and how this new capability helps biologists understand, evaluate, and
analyze these data better. Altogether, these integrations address one of
the most important problems in data visualization in bioinformatics:
Developing sustainable ways to make the vast wealth of genome-centric
experimental data available to the community.
One tap mobile
+15642172000,,82038356125#,,,,*160683# US
+16469313860,,82038356125#,,,,*160683# US
Join instructions
https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/82038356125/invitations?signature=AOYF69Mt…
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics
Hi everybody,
Gentle reminder for our monthly webinar, THIS Wednesday, October 1st. We
will have Paige Kulzer from the Loraine Lab at the University of North
Carolina at Charlotte talking about the Integrated Genome Browser
(IGB) for sustainable
genomic data accessibility and visualization.
More details below. We hope you will join us.
Regards,
Marcela
---
Wednesday, October 1st, 12PM CT| 1P ET | 12P CT | 11A MT | 10A PT |
Find your local time here
<https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/fixedtime.html?msg=AgBioData+October…>
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82038356125?pwd=YVFMRElMdEpHZmtObXFvZlA4QVFXQT09M…
ID: 820 3835 6125
Passcode: 160683
---
*Speaker*: Page Kulzer, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
*Title: *Toward Sustainable Genomic Data Accessibility and Visualization
with the Integrated Genome Browser
*Abstract: *Integrated Genome Browser (IGB, pronounced “ig-bee”) is a fast,
feature-rich, open-source desktop genome browser thousands of researchers
have used to explore and analyze genomic data. To make it as easy as
possible for researchers to load their data in IGB, we provide built-in
genome assemblies and annotations for model and non-model organisms. We
obtained many of these from sources familiar to AgBioData members,
including TAIR, Sol Genomics Network, and MaizeGDB. Other database and
genome browser developers do similar work to disseminate genomic data to
researchers, and some offer robust programmatic access to their data via
APIs (application programmer interfaces). By accessing these computational
resources, IGB can show new assemblies without our team needing to
replicate assembly data files to our own servers. In this webinar, we’ll
discuss IGB’s latest integrations with genome data providers and AgBioData
members. We’re also excited to highlight the ongoing work of doctoral
student Karthik Raveendran in our lab who is developing innovative methods
for visualizing single-cell RNA-Seq data in the Integrated Genome Browser
and how this new capability helps biologists understand, evaluate, and
analyze these data better. Altogether, these integrations address one of
the most important problems in data visualization in bioinformatics:
Developing sustainable ways to make the vast wealth of genome-centric
experimental data available to the community.
One tap mobile
+15642172000,,82038356125#,,,,*160683# US
+16469313860,,82038356125#,,,,*160683# US
Join instructions
https://us06web.zoom.us/meetings/82038356125/invitations?signature=AOYF69Mt…
--
Marcela Karey Tello-Ruiz, PhD
AgBioData Program Manager
Phoenix Bioinformatics