In person — Salle Condorcet, ENS de Lyon — 2 December 2024

Attendees

41 participants in person, 3 via videoconference.

Network objectives

  • Bring together the Lyon bioinformatics community within a single network.
  • Circulate local news and announcements (seminars, events, etc.).
  • Encourage exchanges and expertise sharing.
  • Provide specific support to community members.

General information

In October 2024, the network had 83 subscribers on the mailing list; by 2 December, following the announcement of this meeting, the number had risen to 157 subscribers, and 58 members had already contributed to the community directory.

The most represented geographical areas are Lyon Est and Gerland; La Doua and the HCL catchment area remain underrepresented. The dominant area of expertise is transcriptomic data analysis, with a strong trend towards single-cell and spatial transcriptomics. The primary application domain is oncology.

General observations

  • A shared calendar is identified as a priority, to coordinate network events and avoid overlap with other bioinformatics initiatives in the region.
  • The network must remain active and visible; an annual general meeting is considered necessary.
  • Participants identify three main profiles within the community: bio-analysts, methodologists, and bioinformaticians with a dual biology/informatics role. Network activities should address all three.

Proposals

Shared calendar: set up an accessible tool to inventory and publicise existing training sessions and events. Laurent Modolo is responsible for this.

Discussion channel: the question remains open, pending confirmation of a genuine and shared need.

Network visibility:

  • Present ReBiLy at JOBIM 2025.
  • Build a Lyon community to put forward a bid to organise a future edition of JOBIM.
  • Spread the word through partner networks (SFR BioSciences, INRAE, word of mouth).
  • Integration with MERIT: Jérémy Just is responsible for this.

Training

Launch a needs assessment and take stock of existing training provision, with the aim of offering useful, targeted training for the different community profiles. Training sessions will be scheduled in the shared calendar and announced via the mailing list. A call for volunteers will be issued to form a dedicated working group.

Meetings, seminars and workshop

Two formats agreed:

  • An external guest speaker alongside contributions from members on the session theme.
  • Discussion sessions around problems brought by members.

Events will be announced at least two weeks in advance. Hackathons are also being considered.

Coordination team

The current team is composed of Guillaume Marcy, William Jarassier and Maxime Lepetit. A call for applications is open to expand the coordination team. Roles will be formalised in January.

Agenda — January 2025

  • Formalise coordination team membership and define roles.
  • Set up a shared space centralising key network information (training, seminars, workshops, contacts).
  • Form working groups: training, seminars and workshop.

Written by: William Jarassier and Maxime Lepetit — Reviewed by: Guillaume Marcy