Dutch BioModellers Group meets every other Friday
Background
The Netherlands Consortium for Systems Biology (NCSB) is a Dutch NGI-funded € 30M research programme, which aims at implementing systems biology approaches in Dutch biomedical, agricultural and biotechnological research. Systems biology is understood here as the iterative cycle of data-driven modelling and model-driven experimentation. Key component of the NCSB programme is the shared building of knowledge of how to model complex biological systems in a quantitative and predictive way and to use such model to design optimal experiments.
To this end the investigators involved in modelling and experimental design regularly meet to exchange expertise and develop new modelling approaches. Aim is to create a knowledge base on modelling of biological systems in the Netherlands. The underlying idea is that basic issues in modelling of systems relevant for biomedical, agricultural and biotechnological research are similar.
The NCSB group Biomodeling and Biosystems Analysis, headed by Dr Roeland Merks (CWI, Amsterdam) is responsible for organising these meetings.
Create a centre of expertise on computational modelling as a firm basis for the modelling activities of NCSB.
Create a platform where ideas are exchanged, modelling techniques are shared, existing models are evaluated critically, and existing problems are viewed from new, surprising angles.
Find optimal solutions for a particular modelling problem, choosing existing techniques if possible and develop new techniques if needed.
Accelerate model development in an inspiring research atmosphere.
Exploit models in experimental design.
New meeting format for the Dutch BioModellers Group
In the past year we have experimented with different formats for these meetings and collected feedback from the users. Based on this a new format has been developed for the meetings of the NCSB modellers, which comprises the following elements.
Research progress presentations
Two or three PhD or PDs discuss ongoing research. The format is as in a regular research group meeting, i.e., incomplete “work in progress” is presented and discussed. Each PhD and PD will be assigned well in advance when to present his/her work. All modellers participate in these discussions.
Specialist working groups
PhDs and PDs will split up in groups of three to four persons sharing a common research interest. Each group will focus on a specific research question proposed by one of the participants, applying modelling expertise of another participant. Groups will focus on one topic for a few sessions. We propose to start with three specialist working groups: a) metabolism, b) multicellular systems, c) top-down modelling. NBIC will be invited to participate in the top-down working group. The outcome of the different working group activities will be presented in a plenary session.
NISB-CWI Life Sciences seminars by external experts
Regularly, external speakers will be invited. These speakers will be invited in the context of the regular Life Sciences seminar series of the CWI-NISB.
Journal club
Participants discuss one or more recent papers with a significant modelling component.
Frequency
Meetings will be held on Friday once every two weeks at CWI in Amsterdam.
Participants
All PhD and PD modellers that participate in the NCSB programme are expected to participate. In addition, meetings of the Dutch BioModellers Group are open to any other young or established scientist in or outside the NCSB programme.
Drinks
Meetings will close informally with drinks at café Polder (opposite to the CWI)– first round on NCSB!
Meetings in this new format will start Friday 2010 March 19.
Typical programme
9:30-10.00 coffee
10:00-11:30 research progress presentations
11:30-12:30 specialist working groups session I
12:30-13:15 lunch and informal discussions
13:15-15:30 specialist working groups session II
15:30-16:30 journal club or CWI-NISB Life Sciences Seminar
16:30 drinks at Polder
Dr Roeland Merks
Biomodelling and Biosytems Analysis Group (NCSB-NISB-project)
Life Sciences Group
Centrum Wiskunde&Informatica (CWI)
(Room M244) Science Park 123
1098XG Amsterdam
T: +31-20-592 4117
E: roeland.merks@sysbio.nl
W: homepages.cwi.nl/~merks
