Objective
SYSBIOMED seeks to improve Europe's competitiveness in systems biology (SB). The core objective is to explore the potential of SB for medical research, therapy and drug development. The other main goal is the formation of a network of young scientists who - interacting with senior experts from SB and medicine - define the framework for future research programmes in 'Medical Systems Biology' (MSB). SYSBIOMED is expected to provide valuable strategic information for the assessment of MSB's potential, laying groundwork for future research initiatives. Workshops (preparatory and disease focused 'exploratory' workshops) form the core of SYSBIOMED. They offer valuable opportunities for young scientists to enter this field, for theoreticians to meet experimentalists, for industry to meet academic researchers and should help to bridge the gap between the scientific communities in SB and medical/clinical research. Young academics will interact with high level experts from the corresponding medical fields and industry and develop future perspectives (foresight) on mid-term and long-term SB applications for medicine (think tank). Application of knowledge: commercial enterprises will in particular benefit from SYSBIOMED's experts workshops by getting first-hand access to cutting-edge science, especially through the researchers' network. Clinicians from the network and advisory board will have the opportunity to evaluate options for translational research. SYSBIOMED is not a stand-alone initiative. It builds on relevant actions and is committed to close collaboration with related initiatives in order to a) pave the way for collaborations beyond each programmes' borders and b) to avoid redundant and parallel efforts wasting resources. SYSBIOMED has won the commitment of the journals The Scientist, Nature Biotechnology and IEE Proc. Systems Biology to support a work package devoted to the dissemination of SYSBIOMED's results.
Call for proposal
FP6-2005-LIFESCIHEALTH-6
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