WP2
WP2 - VPH Exemplar Projects
Overview
(Nov. 2009: 18-month WP2 report on the Exemplar Projects, D2.6, is available here)
WP2 team: Key tasks
- Seed Exemplar project coordination and monitoring
- Reporting on Seed Exemplar Projects
- Ensuring connection of all Exemplar Projects to the VPH ToolKit
- VPH Research Strategy Document: authored and published Autumn 2008
- Release of call and evaluation of proposals for new VPH NoE Exemplar Projects (Summer 2009 onwards)
Coordinator: CNRS
Supporting 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.
Seed Exemplar Projects, which will take place in the first 18 months of the VPH NoE project include:
- CNRS: A multi-organ Core Model of arterial pressure and body fluids homeostasis
- ULB: Integrated multi-level modelling of the musculoskeletal system
- KI: Fighting aneurysmal disease (FAD)
- IMIM: Multi-scale simulation and prediction of the drug safety problems related with hERG
- ERCIM, Digital Patient Working Group: Modelling and visualising brain function and pathophysiology
To view an initial description of the 5 seed Exemplar Projects please click on the links above or alternatively all 5 seed Exemplar Projects can be found on the Exemplar Project page.
It is very important to note that subsequent exemplar projects will be awarded as part of an open call process to VPH NoE General Members.
Why have exemplar projects (EPs)?
The principal challenge in development of the VPH ToolKit is establishment of the transversal, or horizontal, connections between the usual domains of investigation. The intention in selecting the EPs (both the seedEPs and future EPs), is to push development in the direction of this transversal integration. We expect this to be one of the main hurdles to success of the collaborative/integrative approach underlying the physiome concept. It must of course rely on the technical resources that will constitute the VPH ToolKit but it represents, in some sense, a change of paradigm, towards a globalization/mondialisation of biomedical research.
Whereas the RTAE (Requirements and Technology Assessment Exercise) document analyses the technological requirements and existing resources in a range of VPH task areas, the EPSD focuses on the role of exemplar projects in the challenge of bringing the various scientific disciplines to collaborate towards "an integrative approach, were biological processes are described from a systems point of view" (STEP Roadmap, 2007, p.2). It is of course expected that the other projects (i.e., STREPs, IPs) funded under the VPH calls will also work in this direction, but the EPs, which are ongoing projects with independent funding, will receive a budget specifically for this mission directly from the NoE. The EPSD summarizes the existing seedEP projects and their expressed technical needs and potential contributions in terms of the WP3 ToolKit development. Our purpose is to target the three calls for new Exemplar Projects by identifying key gaps in both the technological requirements and in coverage of the horizontal and vertical links among the various physiological levels (gene-to-organism) and organ systems.
The EPSD also presents the practical details of launching the calls, evaluating proposals, and selecting and financing the new EPs.
The first Exemplar Project Call is now closed - for information on the previous call click here
VPH NoE Repository
Please note that WP2 related documents and a private WP2 workspace is now available in the VPH NoE repository. To go to the VPH repository please click here.