UMUC Program Will Prepare Students for Hot New Field in Biotechnology

Robert Ouellette

By Andrea Martino

This fall, UMUC will add a new bioinformatics practice track to its Master of Science in Biotechnology Studies degree program. Bioinformatics, which has been called the fastest-growing segment of the biotechnology industry, is a cross between "high tech" and "biotech," or information technology and biology. Instead of typical data, however, mammoth databases will contain gene and protein sequences and structure/function information into which more "biologica" can be deposited. Think of it as a laboratory without all the petri dishes and test tubes.

"There will indeed be a tremendous amount of data produced in a very short while," said Robert Ouellette, who oversees the university's biotechnology studies program. "The 21st century looks to be, for now, biotechnology's golden age and the industry, especially in Maryland, will need a great influx of qualified professionals with expertise in bioinformatics."

The recent sequencing of the human genome—a segment of bioinformatics—produced enormous opportunities for industries everywhere, and Maryland ranked third nationwide in biotechnology firms. Two business parks for biotech companies are being considered for development in Baltimore for an industry that employs more than 16,000 statewide in private companies alone. An IBM study predicts the worldwide market for IT firms in the biotechnology sector will reach $43 billion by 2004.

The pharmaceuticals industry, in particular, should reap great rewards from advances in biotechnology and bioinformatics since the Rockville, Maryland-based firm Human Genome Sciences used bioinformatics to shorten the drug-development process by several years and at a fraction of the costs typical for large pharmaceutical companies. In addition to market interests, the threat of chemical and biological terrorist attacks after the events of September 11 requires that the drug-development process be expedited.

"Using bioinformatics, new drugs and procedures can be developed much more quickly," said Ouellette, "because DNA microarrays, loaded with DNA probes, can characterize human beings' entire genetic makeup and be used for computerized experiments in a very short period of time. The bioinformatics field will revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry."

UMUC's bioinformatics practice track comprises five courses focusing on molecular biology, biostatistics, algorithms, and database management. Bioterrorism will be discussed in the program's capstone course. For more information about the new track of courses, visit www.umuc.edu/grad/msbt.html.