13th annual Bio-IT World Conference & Expo to launch new disciplinary track on data security

The 13^th annual Bio-IT World Conference & Expo, to be held April 29-May 1 at the Seaport World Trade Center in Boston, today announced that it will debut a new disciplinary track focused on data security. The new track, "Data Security: Meeting the Challenge in a Data-Centric World," will address security services for both cloud-based systems and traditional computing.

Data security is defined by the processes and mechanisms in place that prevent data misuse and identify threat risks. However, many biological research data sources, from IP to genomic to mobile, require different levels of security. It is the way data is accessed, however, and not where it exists that organizations should concern themselves with the most.

"This is a track we added in response to feedback from attendees of previous year's conferences, who noted the exponential growth of data and the need to ensure proper access to and security of it," said Cindy Crowninshield, RD, LDN, Conference Director for Bio-IT World. "We will also feature our core tracks that have drawn attendees to the conference over the years and look into both the foundations and future of biotechnology."

In addition to the new track on data security, other tracks being featured at Bio-IT World Conference & Expo include:

• IT Infrastructure - Hardware: Big Data Solutions and End-User Perspectives - networking infrastructures, integrated computing and storage platforms and solutions, as well as analytics.
• Software Development: Technologies and Applications for Managing and Sharing Data - data handling, workflows and systems integration activities.
• Cloud Computing: Riding the Cloud to Next-Generation Computing - the rapid growth and continuing maturation of the cloud as well as evolving provider and user experiences.
• Bioinformatics: Utilizing Massive Quantities of -omic Information across Research Initiatives - technologies and tools that bring together relevant -omic data from multiple physical locations for analysis.
• Next-Generation Sequencing Informatics: Advances in Analysis and Interpretation of NGS Data - advances in analysis and interpretation of next-gen sequencing data.
• Systems Pharmacology: Pathways to Patient Response - how compounds (i.e., drugs) work in the body and how they are influenced by various -omics.
• eClinical Trials Solutions: Innovative Management in Clinical Trials - innovative clinical technology solutions and best practice approaches to clinical research management.
• Data Visualization and Exploration Tools: From Genomics to the Discovery - how to design, implement and evaluate visualization techniques and tools that offer real value to the user both in support of genomics and sequencing research, as well as in drug discovery and development.
• Pharmaceutical R&D Informatics: Collaboration, Data Science and Biologics - how pharma and academia continue to meet the need of supporting collaboration and externalization and how big data and data science are currently impacting R&D.
• Clinical Genomics: Tools for Interrogation, Integration and Implementation - the shift from discovery research into clinical implementation.
• Collaborations and Open Access Innovations: Collaborative and Open Access Models for Advancing Research, Discovery and Personalized Medicine - best practices in collaboration and information sharing that helps to drive progress in translational research.
• Cancer Informatics: Applying Computational Biology to Cancer Research & Care - informatics trends and challenges in cancer research and care including data access, analysis, integration, management and application for biological interpretation to aid in research at the benchside or care at the bedside.