Summary
Objectives To analyze the role that biomedical informatics could play in the application of
the NBIC Converging Technologies in the medical field and raise awareness of these
new areas throughout the Biomedical Informatics community.
Methods Review of the literature and analysis of the reference documents in this domain from
the biomedical informatics perspective. Detailing existing developments showing that
partial convergence of technologies have already yielded relevant results in biomedicine
(such as bioinformatics or biochips). Input from current projects in which the authors
are involved is also used.
Results Information processing is a key issue in enabling the convergence of NBIC technologies.
Researchers in biomedical informatics are in a privileged position to participate
and actively develop this new scientific direction. The experience of biomedical informaticians
in five decades of research in the medical area and their involvement in the completion
of the Human and other genome projects will help them participate in a similar role
for the development of applications of converging technologies —particularly in nanomedicine.
Conclusions The proposed convergence will bring bridges between traditional disciplines. Particular
attention should be placed on the ethical, legal, and social issues raised by the
NBIC convergence. These technologies provide new directions for research and education
in Biomedical Informatics placing a greater emphasis in multidisciplinary approaches.
Keywords
Biomedical informatics - nanotechnology - nanomedicine - biotechnology - bioinformatics
