David Willshaw Institute for Adaptive & Neural Computation School of Informatics University of Edinburgh UK INCF Neuroinformatics Node

Neuroinformatics “… combines neuroscience and informatics research to develop and apply the advanced tools and approaches that are essential for major advances in understanding the structure and function of the brain.” OECD Megascience Forum Biological Informatics Working Group; report from the Neuroinformatics Subgroup (1998)

The three pillars of neuroinformatics NEUROSCIENCE DATA & DATABASES SOFTWARE TOOLS COMPUTATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE Analysis Simulation GENERAL COMPUTATIONAL PRINCIPLES

1998–2004: Developing UK neuroinformatics 2004–2007: UK Neuroinformatics Network 2007– : UK INCF Node v Three stages of UK neuroinformatics

Developing UK neuroinformatics Workshop in Edinburgh to inform UK Medical Research Council – the governmental agency responsible for neuroinformatics. EPSRC/MRC/BBSRC workshop in Abingdon bringing together neuroscientists, biologists and computer scientists with funding agencies MRC/EPSRC workshop in Edinburgh attended by ~50 neuroinformaticians and potential neuroinformaticians

Developing UK neuroinformatics From Sept 2001 workshop Features: lots of modelling work (hippocampus, basal ganglia, visual system, developmental), brain imaging, a few databases (eg, for Drosophila), small but significant activity in tools Concerns: long term support of neuroinformatics tools - sustainability lack of credit assigned to neuroinformatics practitioners standards: cottage industry preferred over Microsoft model need to compete for funding with strong UK bioinformatics community little track record in industrial/commercial collaboration coordination of the various UK funding schemes desirable

UK Neuroinformatics Network The network was established in April 2004 jointly funded by EPSRC/MRC/BBSRC with a focus on computational modelling

UK Neuroinformatics Network MRC/EPSRC/BBSRC funded, To develop the UK neuroinformatics community To act as a forum for UK neuroinformatics To examine the state of UK neuroinformatics To scope out areas of likely development [This could act as the UK Node in the OECD recommended international scheme; see later]

Highlights of UKNIN activities (1) 1. Community building workshop ~ 50 people. The CARMEN project emerged from this; see (4) (David Willshaw, Edinburgh) 2. Initial scoping exercise about interest in Neuroinformatics (Kit Longden, Imperial, London) 3. Review of UK NI training (Kit Longden, Imperial) 4. CARMEN (£3M project; Colin Ingram, Newcastle)

Highlights of UKNIN activities (2) 5. Workshop: Systems Biology meets Neuroinformatics (Douglas Armstrong, Edinburgh) 6. Workshop: Deep Brain Stimulation (Roman Borisyuk, Plymouth) 7. Workshop: Neural Coding (Rasmus Petersen, Manchester)

Highlights of UKNIN activities (3) 8. Web-based questionnaire about neuroinformatics amongst neuroscientists (David Willlshaw, Edinburgh) 9. Five discussion meetings about joining INCF (London, Edinburgh, Newcastle) 10. Workshop to plan organisation of INCF UK node (Edinburgh, September 2007)

Review of UKNIN - planned Establishing a Steering Committee Setting up a web site Holding strategic/organisational workshops Holding/facilitating scientific workshops Organising/facilitating specific projects Preparing to join INCF

Review of UKNIN - achievements Establishing a Steering Committee - less formal than planned Setting up a web site YES! ( Holding strategic/organisational workshops YES! Holding/facilitating scientific workshops YES! Setting up specific projects YES! Preparing to join INCF YES!

The next step: April 2004 Aug 2005 Aug 2007 UK Neuroinformatics Network established (funded by EPSRC/MRC/BBSRC) with a focus on computational modelling International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF) established UK joins INCF as the 13 th member.

The UK INCF node 1. Aims and activities agreed at Sept 2007 workshop 2. David Willshaw was mandated to set up a small coordinating committee made up of 8-10 people with broad interests 2 INCF representatives 2 experimental neuroscientists 2 modellers 2 informatics people 1 industrial/commercial 2 others (from Special Interest Groups?) 3. Committee almost complete (MdK,fMRI?)

Aims of the UK INCF node (1) Facilitate communication and dialogue within the UK neuroinformatics community with other communities with INCF secretariat with other UK nodes Be involved in INCF work plan

Aims of the UK INCF node (2) Stimulate new research areas/questions Promote awareness-raising Participate in developing UK policy Education and training Sustainability of resources

State of play, 6 th December 2007 The first activities of the UK Node are to apply for continued funding to develop workshops looking at training for neuroinformatics The first to be held May 2008 definitions/scope of training current provision needs

Dim shapes appearing in my crystal ball: Clinical applications. Important for INCF and nodes to demonstrate the clinical relevance of neuroinformatics. UK: MRC and Department of Health budgets combined Systems biology. What effect will the development of systems biology have?

Draft proposal 0 for UK Node discussed at the final workshop 1. UK node members form Special Interest Groups (SIGS) 2. A coordinating committee is established, made up of a representative from each SIG 3. The UK INCF representatives are also members of the committee