ZonMW Building, Den Haag Friday, November 26, 2004

1. Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for the Netherlands ZonMW Building, Den Haag Friday, November 26, 2004 Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

2. Workshop • Building on a Neuroinformatics Program in The Netherlands • Present Neuroinformatics activities in NL • Challenges for future Neuroinformatics research • Community building (neuro/computer/physical sciences) • Education and training Objectives Scientific presentations Posters Summary and Impressions Program Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

3. Outline introduction • OECD Global Science Forum • Neuroinformatics Working Group • International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility • Neuroinformatics in the Netherlands Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

4. Concern The Neurosciences have developed up to a state where the lack of techniques to manage and exchange data, and the lack of tools to handle and model the complexity and organization of the brain slows down further scientific progress Needed Tools to manage, analyse and share large amounts of data and information Tools for handle complexity, organization and dynamics of the brain (theories, computational models) Tools for scaling up collaborative investigations OECD-Global Science Forum Working Group Neuroinformatics (1996-2003) Arrange fundamentals for the establishment and promotion of Neuroinformatics Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

5. Members OECD Global Science Forum Neuroinformatics Working Group Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

6. Establish the required global coordination Resources (data, knowledge, people) Guidelines (data integration, interoperability) Sustainability Recommendations Establish a global neuroinformatics capability Management, sharing and integration of neuroscience data Development of tools for data analysis, visualization, simulation and distribution Computational and theoretical models of the nervous system Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

7. Global Neuroinformatics Program International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) Secr. host Program in International Neuroinformatics Professional organisations, Scientists, Scientific Journals National Research Bodies National Neuroinformatics Nodes Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

8. International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility Work Program • Development of databases (covering basic and clinical neuroscience from gene to behavior) • Infrastructure (e.g., portals, communication channels, database federations, grid middleware) • Tools (e.g., simulation environments for computational neuroscience, computational devices, • data analysis, data mining, data warehousing, middleware) • Construction and dissemination of nervous system models and simulation of neural processes • Other activities (e.g., development of guidelines, standards, ontologies, dissemination of knowledge, • outreach to other communities) • Facilitation of the development of the capacity for neuroinformatics research • (e.g., encouraging development of interdisciplinary training programs) • Coordinate research in neuroinformatics (development of consensus on strategies and priorities, • facilitating joint funding agreements to carry out specific projects or meet specific goals) • Implementation of the Program in Neuroinformatics (PIN) • ( mechanism of support of development of Neuroinformatics) • Develop the capabilities for both transfer of Knowledge and Technology Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

9. National Nodes in Neuroinformatics national coordination and interfacing with INCF • Active participation in formulation and implementation of the INCF Work Programs • Coordination and facilitation of neuroinformatics research at national level • Promotion of the sharing of neuroinformatics data under common standards, • consistent with INCF • Promotion of neuroinformatics in support of INCF • Development of a description of an accepted standard of metadata of the contents • and quality of data bases, analytical tools and computational models • Advice on policy of Intellectual Property Rights and protection of experimental subjects • Coordination of the management by data bases administrators Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

10. Recent developments at OECD 29-30 January 2004: Meeting of the OECD Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy at Ministerial Level in Paris: Full support to promote scientific co-operation in the field of Neuroinformatics Support statement by our OCW minister Maria van der Hoeven 15-16 July 2004: 11th OECD Global Science Forum Meeting in Paris: Acceptation of the documents outlining the business plan, INCF, PIN INCF starts when at least 5 countries have signed the agreement (Understanding) and sufficient resources are made available September 2004: Countries and participants start signing the Understanding Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

11. Participants in INCF November 2004 India Italy Japan Korea Netherlands Norway decided to sign Sweden Switzerland decided to sign UK USA decided to sign Australia decided to sign Belgium Canada China almost ready to sign Czech Republic decided to sign Denmark European Commission Finland decided to sign France Germany decision early 2005 Membership in consideration in all other countries Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004

12. Objectives –Statements - Roadmap Community building Website(www.neuroinformatics.nl); Research groups, people and organizations from Neuro / Computer / Physical sciences Activities, links, documentation, etc Scientific meetings I Policy Workshop, January 30, 2004, Den Haag II Satellite Workshop at 3rd ENP Meeting, June 4, 2004, Doorwerth III Science Workshop, November 26, 2004, Den Haag IV Satellite Workshop at 4th ENP Meeting, May/June, 2005, Doorwerth Education and Training Integration of existing courses in neuro / computer / physical sciences New (batcheler / master/PhD) curriculi, training opportunities Research Program Identifying and integrating the strength of Dutch research Infrastructure Building a network of national neuroinformatics resources Linkage with INCF Adherence to the INCF program - Representation of national node in INCF Resources Support from national science agencies Neuroinformatics in the Netherlands Towards a National Node Science Workshop Neuroinformatics: Challenges for The Netherlands, ZonMW Building, Den Haag, November 26, 2004