Second Call for NoE Exemplar Projects

Thursday, 15 April 2010

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.

For further information, please visit:
http://www.vph-noe.eu

Related news articles:

• FP7 Projects: VPH-NoE

About the VPH Network of Excellence
The VPH Network of Excellence (VPH NoE) is designed to foster, harmonise and integrate pan-European research in the field of i) patient-specific computer models for personalised and predictive healthcare and ii) ICT-based tools for modelling and simulation of human physiology and disease-related processes.

The main objectives of the VPH Network of Excellence are to support the:

• Coordination of research portfolios of VPH NoE partners through initiation of Exemplar integrative research projects that encourage inter-institution and interdisciplinary VPH research.
• Integration of research infrastructures of VPH NoE partners through development of the VPH ToolKit: a shared and mutually accessible source of research equipment, managerial and research infrastructures, facilities and services.
• Development of a portfolio of interdisciplinary training activities including a formal consultation on, and assessment of, VPH careers.
• Establishment of a core set of VPH-related dissemination and networking activities which will engage everyone from partners within the VPH NoE/other VPH projects, to national policy makers, to the public at large.
• Creation of Industrial, Clinical and Scientific Advisory Boards that will jointly guide the direction of the VPH NoE and, through consultation, explore the practical and legal options for real and durable integration within the VPH research community.
• Implementation of key working groups that will pursue specific issues relating to VPH, notably integrating VPH research worldwide through international physiome initiatives.