This course corresponds to the second session of INCF's Neuroinformatics Assembly 2023. This series of talks continues a discussion of FAIR principles from the first session, with a greater emphasis on brain data (humans and animals) atlases for data analysis and integation. 

Presented by the Neuroscience Information Framework (NIF), this series consists of several lectures characterizing cutting-edge, open-source software platforms and computational tools for neuroscientists. This course offers detailed descriptions of various neuroinformatic resources such as cloud-computing services, web-based annotation tools, genome browsers, and platforms for designing and building biophysically detailed models of neurons and neural ensembles.

The dimensionality and size of datasets in many fields of neuroscience research require massively parallel computing power.  Fortunately, the maturity and accessibility of virtualization technologies has made it feasible to run the same analysis environments on platforms ranging from single laptop computers up to high-performance computing networks.

In this course, you will learn how computational neuroscientists use mathematical models and computer simulations to study different plasticity phenomena in the brain. During the course, you will program your own neuron model, a so-called leaky-integrate-and-fire (LIF) neuron model, and simulate it with a computer. You will also learn how to add various neuronal properties and plasticity mechanisms to the model and study how they operate.

This course includes both lectures and tutorials around the management and analysis of genomic data in clinical research and care. Participants are led through the basics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genotypes, and polygenic risk scores, as well as novel concepts and tools for more sophisticated consideration of population stratification in GWAS.

This workshop provides an opportunity to explore the advanced tools and techniques for data sharing, analysis, visualization, and simulation.

This course, consisting of one lecture and two workshops, is presented by the Computational Genomics Lab at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto. The lecture deals with single-cell and bulk level transciptomics, while the two hands-on workshops introduce users to transcriptomic data types (e.g., RNAseq) and how to perform analyses in specific use cases (e.g., cellular changes in major depression). 

This course consists of two workshops which focus on the need for reproducibility in science, particularly under the umbrella roadmap of FAIR scienctific principles. The tutorials also provide an introduction to some of the most commonly used open-source scientific tools, including Git, GitHub, Google Colab, Binder, Docker, and the programming languages Python and R. 

This workshop provides basic knowledge on personalized brain network modeling using the open-source simulation platform The Virtual Brain (TVB). Participants will gain theoretical knowledge and apply this knowledge to construct brain models, process multimodal neuroimaging data for reconstructing individual brains, run simulations, and use supporting neuroinformatics tools such as collaboratories, pipelines, workflows, and data repositories.

This course includes both lectures and tutorials around the management and analysis of genomic data in clinical research and care. Participants are led through the basics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genotypes, and polygenic risk scores, as well as novel concepts and tools for more sophisticated consideration of population stratification in GWAS.

As technological improvements continue to facilitate innovations in the mental health space, researchers and clinicians are faced with novel opportunities and challenges regarding study design, diagnoses, treatments, and follow-up care. This course includes a lecture outlining these new developments, as well as a workshop which introduces users to Synapse, an open-source platform for collaborative data analysis. 

This course offers lectures on the origin and functional significance of certain electrophysiological signals in the brain, as well as a hands-on tutorial on how to simulate, statistically evaluate, and visualize such signals. Participants will learn the simulation of signals at different spatial scales, including single-cell (neuronal spiking) and global (EEG), and how these may serve as biomarkers in the evaluation of mental health data.

This course, consisting of one lecture and two workshops, is presented by the Computational Genomics Lab at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto. The lecture deals with single-cell and bulk level transciptomics, while the two hands-on workshops introduce users to transcriptomic data types (e.g., RNAseq) and how to perform analyses in specific use cases (e.g., cellular changes in major depression). 

Bayesian inference (using prior knowledge to generate more accurate predictions about future events or outcomes) has become increasingly applied to the fields of neuroscience and neuroinformatics. In this course, participants are taught how Bayesian statistics may be used to build cognitive models of processes like learning or perception. This course also offers theoretical and practical instruction on dynamic causal modeling as applied to fMRI and EEG data.

This course, consisting of one lecture and two workshops, is presented by the Computational Genomics Lab at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto. The lecture deals with single-cell and bulk level transciptomics, while the two hands-on workshops introduce users to transcriptomic data types (e.g., RNAseq) and how to perform analyses in specific use cases (e.g., cellular changes in major depression). 

This working group is a collaboration between OCNS and INCF. The group focuses on evaluating and testing computational neuroscience tools; finding them, testing them, learning how they work, and informing developers of issues to ensure that these tools remain in good shape by having communities looking after them. Since many members of the WG are themselves tool developers, we will also learn from each other and will work towards improving interoperability between related tools.

This course offers lectures on the origin and functional significance of certain electrophysiological signals in the brain, as well as a hands-on tutorial on how to simulate, statistically evaluate, and visualize such signals. Participants will learn the simulation of signals at different spatial scales, including single-cell (neuronal spiking) and global (EEG), and how these may serve as biomarkers in the evaluation of mental health data.

The workshop will include interactive seminars given by selected experts in the field covering all aspects of (FAIR) small animal MRI data acquisition, analysis, and sharing. The seminars will be followed by hands-on training where participants will perform use case scenarios using software established by the organizers. This will include an introduction to the basics of using command line interfaces, Python installation, working with Docker/Singularity containers, Datalad/Git, and BIDS.

This course includes both lectures and tutorials around the management and analysis of genomic data in clinical research and care. Participants are led through the basics of genome-wide association studies (GWAS), genotypes, and polygenic risk scores, as well as novel concepts and tools for more sophisticated consideration of population stratification in GWAS.

This course, consisting of one lecture and two workshops, is presented by the Computational Genomics Lab at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto. The lecture deals with single-cell and bulk level transciptomics, while the two hands-on workshops introduce users to transcriptomic data types (e.g., RNAseq) and how to perform analyses in specific use cases (e.g., cellular changes in major depression).