ESF calls for greater coordination of systems biology research in Europe
Europe needs an interactive systems biology network, according to a new report from the European Science Foundation (ESF). The report, entitled 'Systems Biology: a Grand Challenge for Europe', was drawn up by the ESF Task Force on Systems Biology, comprising nine experts in the field. Diseases and health conditions such as diabetes and obesity are caused by a range of both genetic and environmental factors. Systems biology is a rapidly growing field; the ESF defines it as the 'the study of how biological networking produces function at the level of the cell, organ and body'. Scientists hope it will lead to new advances in biotechnology and health research. The new report sets out a vision in which Europe leads the way in the making of a 'blue cell' - a model blueprint of a cell which can then be filled out with information for a number of important diseases and biotechnological processes. In the report, the ESF describes the steps needed to achieve this vision. Top of the list is the need to develop new, biology-specific technologies. 'We cannot move forward in systems biology in Europe unless we have the technology to back up our vision,' says ESF Task Force member Professor Rudolf Aebersold of the ETH in Zurich, Switzerland. 'We need new, powerful, user-friendly technologies not only to process and integrate large amounts of data, enhance data sharing and visualise models of biological systems, but also to collect that data in the first place.' The ESF plans to organise research into two broad networks: systems biotechnology and multifactorial diseases. These networks will include scientists from a range of disciplines, and for them all to work together effectively, they will need a certain amount of training in other disciplines. 'We need scientists that can understand both sides of the systems biology coin: biologists that can handle equations and physical scientists that know their way around in experimental biology,' says Professor Hans Westerhoff of the Manchester Centre for Integrative Systems Biology and the Netherlands' Institute for Systems Biology. 'The Task Force recommends that more support is given to existing systems biology training and exchange programmes so that scientists from other disciplines are attracted to our field.' In addition to technologies and training systems, systems biology in Europe will also need 'hubs', reference laboratories which will enable scientists to carry out experiments that are not possible at their home institution. These reference laboratories should also provide information on procedures, as well as samples to ensure that researchers across Europe are working in the same way. All of these activities should be overseen and supported by a European Systems Biology Office, the Task Force recommends. According to the report, the first calls for applications and expressions of interest relating to the activities outlined will be launched in early 2008.