Advancing Systems Biology for Medical Applications

Project Number SPB N° 35

SysBioMed is a Specific Support Action (SSA) funded through the EC Framework Programme 6 (FP 6; Directorate F: Health Research, Unit F.4: Genomics and Systems Biology)

The project was initiated by Dr. Rosita Cottone (German Federal Ministry for Education and Research). The co-applicants for the proposal were:

  • Professor Olaf Wolkenhauer (University of Rostock, scientific coordinator)
  • Dr. Karsten Schürrle (Dechema e.V., project management)
  • Dr. Carole Moquin-Pattey (European Science Foundation – European Medical Research Councils)
  • Dr. Astrid Lunkes (European Science Foundation – Life, Earth and Environmental Science)

The core objective of the project SysBioMed was to explore the potential of systems biology for medical research, therapy and drug development.

More information on SysBioMed

 

Abstract

The contribution of the European Science Foundation was to compose a Science Policy Briefing on Systems Biology with a specific focus on Medical Applications. The methodology towards this aim was to bring together recognised group leaders and young researchers, to identify and prioritise suitable application areas for Systems Biology within the medical sciences. The challenges, hurdles and opportunities for Systems Biology in medical applications were discussed by more than 110 high level experts who participated in 8 thematic workshops, i.e. 

  • Basal Ganglia Disorders (July 2007) - Nicolas le Novère (Chair, EBI Cambridge, UK),
  • Inflammatory Diseases (September 2007) - Thomas Höfer (Chair, DKFZ Heidelberg, Germany)
  • Dynamic Principles of Cell Function (October 2007) - Frank Bruggemann (Chair, Vrije University Amsterdam, The Netherlands)
  • Cancer (November 2007) - Nils Blüthgen (Chair, University of Manchester, UK)
  • Diabetes (January 2008) - Pierre De Meyts (Chair, Hagedorn Research Institute, Gentofte, Denmark)
  • The Cancer-Ageing Link (February 2008) - Ingeborg van Leeuwen (Chair, University of Dundee, UK)
  • Chronobiology/Chronotherapy (February 2008) - Hanspeter Herzel (Chair, Humbold University Berlin, Germany)
  • Colorectal Cancer (April 2008) - Olaf Wolkenhauer (Chair, University of Rostock, Germany)

In addition, two summer schools were organised to reach out to young researchers.

This Policy Briefing selects and summarises some of the conclusions and recommendations generated throughout the thematic workshops and discussions among the authors of this report.

Status

The draft SPB was scientifically approved by the EMRC and LESC Standing Committees respectively in October and November 2008. The ESF Science Policy Briefing N°35 ‘Advancing Systems Biology for medical Applications’ was published in December 2008.

Writing Group

  • Olaf Wolkenhauer (University of Rostock, Germany)
  • David Fell (Oxford Brookes University, U.K.)
  • Pierre De Meyts (Hagedorn Research Institute, Novo Nordisk A/S, Gentofte, Denmark)
  • Nils Blüthgen (Charité, Berlin, Germany)
  • Hanspeter Herzel (Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany)
  • Nicolas Le Novère (EMBL-EBI, Hinxton – Cambridge, U.K.)
  • Thomas Höfer (DKFZ Heidelberg, Germany)
  • Ingeborg van Leeuwen (University of Dundee, U.K.)