FK-KMK UGM. The digital era’s development has significantly impacted biomedical science, especially with the vast amount of data generated by high-throughput technologies such as Next Generation Sequencing and Microarray. The e-Science concept enables the global utilization of this data through virtual lab infrastructure or simulations that facilitate professional collaboration. Concrete examples of e-Science include databases like The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), Protein Database (PDB), and UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot. To analyze large datasets in biomedical research, programming skills such as R, which is easy to use, free, and compatible with various operating systems, are essential. R is particularly beneficial for students and biomedical researchers to produce high-quality plots ready for publication.
Hence the Biomedical Informatics Research Group (BiRU) under the Translational Research Unit of FK-KMK UGM, in collaboration with the Master of Biomedical Science Program FK-KMK, the Precision Oncology-based Omics Research Collaboration Center (PKR PrOmics), and BRIN Center for Computational Research, is organizing a basic R programming workshop for biomedical research. This workshop targets students, researchers, and lecturers who wish to deepen their use of R, forming a crucial foundation for bioinformatics.
In Indonesia, bioinformatics still requires more talent to support the advancement of biomedical research. This workshop is an active effort by FK-KMK to develop talent in the field of bioinformatics. With expertise in R usage, the utilization of databases within the e-Science concept can be maximized, enhancing the quality of research in drug development and biological products.
This workshop is held online on May 17 and in-person on May 21-22, 2024. On the first day, the online workshop includes three class sessions. The first session is an introductory lecture on R programming and the R studio environment by Kunti Robiatul Mahmudah S.Pd., M.Sc., Ph.D. The second session, also led by the same speaker, covers basic syntax, data types, and data frames. The final session on creating R scripts and functions is presented by Dr. Lala Adetia Marlina, S.Si. The online sessions aim to provide participants with a uniform knowledge base to benefit from the subsequent in-person workshop agenda.
This Basic R Programming Workshop for Biomedical Research supports achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 4 (Quality Education). By training students and researchers in R programming, the workshop enhances their capacity to analyze biomedical data effectively, contributing to the advancement of health research and new medical discoveries. Additionally, by providing high-quality education in bioinformatics, the workshop promotes sustainable development by improving human resource competencies that can contribute to health science innovation in Indonesia. (Assyifa/Reporter).
