BMI 708SEM - Advanced Topics in Biomedical Ontology

The course begins with a review of the theories underlying biomedical knowledge representation and ontology. The methods and tools for applied ontology as well as the management and maintenance of biomedical ontologies will be discussed in detail including the principles of ontological realism and the implementation thereof in the Basic Formal Ontology (BFO). Students will gain experience with the Web Ontology Language (OWL) and the limitations thereof, and with utilities to query ontologies expressed in OWL. The students will learn how to use and evaluate classifiers and their role in subsumation. They will learn both the transitive and reflexive closure of subsumption and its applied use in ontology development, maintenance and use. This course also provides an in-depth review of current theories and research underlying the development of biomedical ontologies as well as a comparative critical analysis of the major current biomedical ontologies as well as the methods and tools for biomedical ontology development, use and evaluation.

Credits: 3

Term Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

Requisites: Pre-Requisite: BMI 508 or PHI 548 or PHI 549.