Systems biology looks at complex processes

Daniel Figeys

Daniel Figeys
Photo � Gordon King

The Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology (OISB) is a collaborative project between the University of Ottawa and the National Research Council of Canada. Headed by Dr. Daniel Figeys, the Institute will be housed in the new extension at Roger Guindon Hall now under construction.

Systems biology is a revolutionary approach that integrates technology, biology, chemistry and computation to study complex, interactive biological processes. Rather than focusing on individual cells, genes or proteins, systems biology adopts an integrative approach and examines systems as a whole.

By definition, systems biology calls for a unique cross-disciplinary environment, and the OISB intends to build a comprehensive team of specialists from various fields. Scientists and scholars will cooperate in the creation of biomolecular tools to understand the mechanism of cellular processes. They will then apply these tools in the study of human diseases.

�You can easily imagine the impact of being able to measure changes in proteins, lipids and carbohydrates as easily and as comprehensively as it is currently done for gene expression,� Dr. Figeys explains.

(This story was adapted from an article that appeared in the October 2004 issue of MedScene, the Faculty of Medicine�s newsletter.)