In keeping with the general ethos of the VPH NoE - to support interdisciplinary and integrative research - Workpackage 2 (WP2) develops Exemplar Projects (EPs) which work towards integration amongst VPH researchers, in order to address specific research problems or challenges. The aim of these projects 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 which will be provided through development of the VPH ToolKit (WP3). The second call for proposals for Exemplar Projects (EPs) will focus on the reinforcement of VPH Toolkit development. The submission deadline for this call is May 15th 2010.

The VPH NoE recognizes the importance of sophisticated, predictive, computational models of development and disease that encompass multiple biological scales. Linking lower scale data and models with higher scale models brings model development closer to predictive medicine. The aim of the VPH NoE is to reinforce, and indeed to enable, the re-use, integration, and sharing of such models and of the data they depend on and the information derived from their use in order to enable researchers and clinicians to better understand,prevent, diagnose and treat diseases or aberrations in normal development. To these ends, this Second Call for VPH Exemplar Projects targets proposals that meet the requirements for excellent, sustainable Toolkit content.

Who can apply? The applicant must be a VPH NoE Core or General Member (collaborations with Associate Members are encouraged, but they may not receive NoE funds). Collaborations among two or more VPH NoE member institutions are strongly encouraged. It is not necessary to already be an approved General Member. If the lab is not already a General Member, they may submit an EP proposal and apply concurrently for General Membership.

It is also not obligatory this time for EPs to be part of an ongoing project. Nonetheless, it is an advantage to be part of a currently funded (national, local, EU) project, because the EP funding doesn't cover anything except 6 or 12 person months for work directly related to the VPH, so it's best to use this to leverage a broader effort being funded by other means Research to be ‘integrated' with the VPH NoE as part of the proposed EP should be already ongoing, and should preferably be supported by committed funding from other sources for the whole period of requested EP support.

The full text of the Call can be downloaded here or see the VPH NoE WP2 page.