Strategic Guidance and Recommendations

 

 

This report is from the European Science Foundation (ESF) Task Force, comprising of nine experts in the field. It contains a series of recommendations built on the ESF Forward Look report Systems Biology: a Grand Challenge for Europe.

 

Summary............. 5
Introduction.............  6
Observations.............  6
Technology development ............. 6
Unified approach.............  7
Linking up with much of science and engineering.............  7
Knowledge Organisation.............  7
Demand pull.............  8
The advice of the ESF Task Force on Systems Biology ............. 9
A single central vision ‘Networks for Life’.............  9
Underpinning action TECHNOLOGY: A massive technology development
initiative ............. 10
Underpinning action RESEARCH: Two strong, fully-funded integral research
programmes addressing Systems Biotechnology and Multi-factorial Diseases.............  13
Underpinning action TRAINING: A coordinated massive training initiative ............. 14
Underpinning action STANDARDS: European reference laboratories ............. 15
Underpinning action THINKTANK: Institutes for Advanced Studies.............  15
Volume of the Grand Action on Systems Biology.............  15
Management of the programme by a dedicated consortium ............. 15
Proposed role of the ESF.............  17
Members of the Task Force on Systems Biology.............  18