I graduated from the Charles University in Prague with an MSc in Computer Science and PhD in Biomedical Informatics. I started as a software engineer in the mid-90s, then grew into a researcher at the Institute of Computer Science of the Czech Academy of Sciences.
My involvement with ISAC began in 2005 when I joined Dr. Ryan Brinkman at BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada. Since then, I have been focusing on computational data analysis, standardization and data sharing in flow cytometry. My work is reflected in 104 publications with 4,890 citations (https://tinyurl.com/jspubl). I worked with the ISAC Data Standards Task Force and led the development of major ISAC standards including FCS, Gating-ML and MIFlowCyt. I developed or contributed to dozens of GenePattern modules and several open-source R tools including flowCore – the main library to analyze flow cytometry data in R. I chaired sessions, helped on program committees, and presented at many CYTOs as well as regional meetings including GLIIFCA, FlowTex and cytometry meetings in Europe. With ISAC’s support, I carried out most of the software development of FlowRepository between 2010 and 2016.
In 2016, I went back to industry, relocated to the USA, and joined the FlowJo engineering team on their journey to deliver best-in-class data analysis capabilities to cytometrists. FlowJo was acquired by BD in 2017, and my career evolved from an individual software engineer to a leader of Informatics R&D, which currently includes the FlowJo engineering team, the Cytognos (Infinicyt) engineering team, and other software engineering efforts such as BD Research Cloud. I have maintained active engagement with ISAC, continued my work with the ISAC Data Committee, and leveraged my position in BD to execute on synergistic opportunities between BD, ISAC and the flow cytometry community. This included working with ISAC on a long-term strategy for a new open cytometry data repository (coming soon, fingers crossed), helping drive BD-sponsored ISAC awards for recognizing excellence and innovation in cytometry, and driving a BD-sponsored flow cytometry bioinformatics funding initiative.
Vision Statement
I am honored and excited to be nominated for ISAC council. I have been a member of ISAC for 19 years, and I have been actively involved in several ISAC initiatives, such as the ISAC data standards task force, CYTO program committees, cytometry standardization efforts, and data sharing initiatives. The society has generously supported me as a 2016-2019 ISAC Marylou Ingram Scholar. I view serving on ISAC council as an opportunity to give back. I am passionate about advancing the field of cytometry and fostering a vibrant and diverse community of researchers, clinicians, and industry partners.
My vision for ISAC is to promote and facilitate collaboration, innovation, and standardization in cytometry. I believe that these are the key elements for the growth and success of our field in the era of rapid instrumentation advancements, big data, and artificial intelligence. I have three main goals for ISAC:
- Enhance collaboration between academia and industry. I believe that there is a large potential for synergies and mutual benefits. Academia can provide novel ideas, methods, and applications, while industry can offer cutting-edge technology, resources, and market access. Half of my 30 years’ experience has been in academia, the other in industry. I intend to leverage this background to bring them closer together.
- Increase ISAC’s support of regional cytometry societies and international collaborations. I believe that ISAC has a unique role in connecting members from different regions and cultures. I have lived and worked in Europe, Canada, and the USA. I have learned from the different perspectives, approaches, and challenges that each region faces. This has been very valuable to me, and I would like more ISAC members to benefit from similar experiences. I believe it will foster diversity to the benefit of the whole society.
- Strengthen standardization in cytometry. I see standardization as essential for the reproducibility, comparability, and interoperability of cytometry data and analysis. This is especially important in the context of the recent advances in flow cytometry instrumentation, which enable the generation of larger and more complex data sets, which in turn require more computational analysis. Artificial Intelligence has the potential to enhance our ability of drawing insights from data. Data standardization is essential for enhancing its effectiveness as it allows for consistency; resulting in improved accuracy, efficiency, and interpretability. I have been actively working with ISAC on standardization for over a decade. I would like to see more ISAC initiatives promoting and facilitate standardization in cytometry, including guidelines, open file formats, tools, and training.
In conclusion, I believe that ISAC is a great organization that has a lot to offer to its members, the cytometry community and beyond. I am eager to contribute to its mission and vision as a council member. I have the background, experience, and enthusiasm to serve ISAC and its members. I would appreciate your support and vote. Thank you for your consideration.
Josef Spidlen