In keeping with the general ethos of the VPH NoE - to support interdisciplinary and integrative research - WP2 will develop Exemplar Projects (EPs) working towards integration amongst VPH researchers, in order to address specific research problems or challenges. These projects aim is to provide solid examples of horizontal and vertical model/data integration, which may only be achieved through the integration of disparate knowledge and research infrastructure. This 'infrastructure' will be provided through development of the VPH ToolKit (WP3).

Within the first year of the project, five 'seed EPs' are being carried out by VPH NoE core members. These are described below, and aim to lay the ground for subsequent EPs. Requirement of these project are as follows:

• Exemplar projects must be INTEGRATIVE
• Exemplar projects must be INTERDISCIPLINARY
• Exemplar projects must MAKE USE AND/OR CONTRIBUTE TO THE VPH ToolKit, through use/development of modelling, simulation and visualisation-related tools, data or methods.

During the course of 2009, a call will be released for EP proposals.

The first call is NOW CLOSED

Seven proposals were submitted, and one was selected as a new Exemplar Project, entitled "Establishing ontology-based methods for the VPH ToolKit to improve interoperability between data and models: the Guyton case study.", Coordinated by EBI. The description is given below.