Director’s Note

This issue of caBIG™ Links includes a feature on Joel Saltz, M.D., Ph.D., whose research team led the collaborative development of the latest version of caGrid, as well as an article that highlights the updates included in caGrid 1.1.

“caGrid Release Highlights Usability and Security Functions” details the usability, security, testing, and service development and deployment updates that are featured in caGrid 1.1, which was released in September 2007. These updates were informed by comments, concerns, and feature requests submitted by caGrid users.

“Getting Connected with Dr. Joel Saltz: From Bioinformatics to Medicine and Back” describes the role Dr. Saltz played in the development of caGrid 1.1, as well as his larger role within caBIG™. Dr. Saltz, who currently serves as the Chair and Professor of Biomedical Informatics at the Ohio State University College of Medicine, as well as the Davis Chair of Cancer Research in the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, also maintains leadership roles in the Architecture and In Vivo Imaging Workspaces.

These articles illustrate the importance of our community-based approach to developing and improving upon caBIG™-compatible tools and systems. We look forward to increased adoption and collaboration as we move forward, and encourage you all to get connected with caBIG™.

Sincerely,   

Kenneth H. Buetow, Ph.D.
NCI Associate Director for Bioinformatics and Information Technologies
National Cancer Institute