Secretariat Office Monash University Building 75, … Office Monash University Building 75, Clayton...
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Secretariat Office Monash University Building 75, Clayton Campus Wellington Road, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia Phone +61 3 9902 9614 Fax +61 3 9902 9729 www.emblaustralia.org This project is supported by the Australian Government. EMBL Australia also gratefully acknowledges the financial contributions of: Participants Secretariat Response to the 2011 Strategic Roadmap for Australia Research Infrastructure Discussion Paper Throughout the world, countries have realized that their future growth and prosperity relies heavily on innovation arising from key areas of research and development. If Australia is to remain internationally competitive, it is critical that we invest our limited resources where they have the greatest impact and obtain the best possible return. As a model of limited R&D governmental investment employed effectively with broad impact, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory – Europe’s only intergovernmental life science research institution and a world‐leader in life sciences – brings a unique combination of activities and infrastructure to support world‐class research. EMBL is a leader and pioneer in research and technology development, combining 38 years of experience in molecular biology research, with the development of complementary sets of tools and technologies to support an extraordinarily interdisciplinary science community. EMBL provides cutting‐edge infrastructure to the international scientific community, prime examples being the 3000+ structural biologists who visit EMBL Synchrotron laboratories each year to make use of X‐ray facilities, and the millions of yearly users of the data resources at the EMBL‐ European Bioinformatics Institute, spanning academia, medicine, environmental studies and the pharmaceutical, agriculture, food and biotechnology sectors. As a result EMBL is a hotbed of innovation, engaging both through pro‐ active technology transfer activities and numerous formal and informal collaborations with industry. Through effective deployment of its relatively modest resources, EMBL helps to produce Europe’s next generation of scientific stars and widely recognized as an instrument of integration across Europe and the world. Recognizing the relevance of the EMBL model for Australian life science research, Australia’s Associate Membership in EMBL was awarded in 2008, facilitated through a substantial NCRIS contribution along with the support of foundation members of EMBL Australia (Monash University, The University of Sydney, University of Western Australia, The University of Queensland, and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation). This response addresses the issues raised in the 2011 Strategic Roadmap Discussion Paper and outlines EMBL Australia’s position with respect to a number of points raised in the document. 1. It is well recognised that Australia’s research infrastructure is now at world class levels Australia’s research infrastructure, made possible through the Australian government’s NCRIS and Super Science Initiatives, allows Australian science and scientists to compete with the best in the world. In fact, Australia’s membership of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory is largely possible through the recognition that Australia’s provision of resources to its scientists is now on a par with Europe’s pre‐eminent life sciences research institute. The creation of EMBL Australia will internationalise Australian research through local integrated research networks that connect to global partnerships. It will drive enhanced research quality through the development of world‐class scientific leaders. The centrepiece of EMBL Australia will be the Partner Laboratory Network of young research groups that will serve as a new paradigm for education, training and highly collaborative research across Australia. The objective is to enhance Australia’s international competitiveness the life sciences, and strengthen its emerging position as a world leader in biotechnology research. As a result of the current research environment, EMBL Australia is now able to undertake its objectives of • establishing a Partner Laboratory Network across Australia; • providing first‐class scientific training and collaborative opportunities for Australian life scientists;
Transcript of Secretariat Office Monash University Building 75, … Office Monash University Building 75, Clayton...
SecretariatOfficeMonashUniversity
Building75,ClaytonCampusWellingtonRoad,Clayton,VIC3800,Australia
Phone+61399029614Fax+61399029729
www.emblaustralia.org
ThisprojectissupportedbytheAustralianGovernment.EMBLAustraliaalsogratefullyacknowledgesthefinancialcontributionsof:Participants Secretariat
Responsetothe2011StrategicRoadmapforAustraliaResearchInfrastructureDiscussionPaperThroughouttheworld,countrieshaverealizedthattheirfuturegrowthandprosperityreliesheavilyoninnovationarisingfromkeyareasofresearchanddevelopment.IfAustraliaistoremaininternationallycompetitive,itiscriticalthatweinvestourlimitedresourceswheretheyhavethegreatestimpactandobtainthebestpossiblereturn.Asamodelof limitedR&Dgovernmental investmentemployedeffectivelywithbroadimpact,theEuropeanMolecularBiology Laboratory – Europe’s only intergovernmental life science research institution and a world‐leader in lifesciences–bringsauniquecombinationofactivitiesandinfrastructuretosupportworld‐classresearch.EMBL is a leader and pioneer in research and technology development, combining 38 years of experience inmolecularbiologyresearch,withthedevelopmentofcomplementarysetsoftoolsandtechnologiestosupportanextraordinarilyinterdisciplinarysciencecommunity.EMBLprovidescutting‐edgeinfrastructuretotheinternationalscientificcommunity,primeexamplesbeingthe3000+structuralbiologistswhovisitEMBLSynchrotronlaboratorieseach year to make use of X‐ray facilities, and the millions of yearly users of the data resources at the EMBL‐European Bioinformatics Institute, spanning academia,medicine, environmental studies and the pharmaceutical,agriculture,foodandbiotechnologysectors.AsaresultEMBLisahotbedofinnovation,engagingboththroughpro‐activetechnologytransferactivitiesandnumerousformalandinformalcollaborationswithindustry.Througheffectivedeploymentofitsrelativelymodestresources,EMBLhelpstoproduceEurope’snextgenerationofscientificstarsandwidelyrecognizedasaninstrumentofintegrationacrossEuropeandtheworld.RecognizingtherelevanceoftheEMBLmodelforAustralianlifescienceresearch,Australia’sAssociateMembershipin EMBL was awarded in 2008, facilitated through a substantial NCRIS contribution along with the support offoundation members of EMBL Australia (Monash University, The University of Sydney, University of WesternAustralia,TheUniversityofQueensland,andtheCommonwealthScientificandIndustrialResearchOrganisation).This response addresses the issues raised in the 2011 Strategic Roadmap Discussion Paper and outlines EMBLAustralia’spositionwithrespecttoanumberofpointsraisedinthedocument.1.ItiswellrecognisedthatAustralia’sresearchinfrastructureisnowatworldclasslevelsAustralia’s research infrastructure,made possible through the Australian government’s NCRIS and Super ScienceInitiatives, allows Australian science and scientists to compete with the best in the world. In fact, Australia’smembership of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory is largely possible through the recognition thatAustralia’sprovisionofresourcestoitsscientists isnowonaparwithEurope’spre‐eminentlifesciencesresearchinstitute.ThecreationofEMBLAustraliawillinternationaliseAustralianresearchthroughlocalintegratedresearchnetworksthatconnecttoglobalpartnerships. Itwilldriveenhancedresearchqualitythroughthedevelopmentofworld‐classscientific leaders.ThecentrepieceofEMBLAustraliawillbethePartnerLaboratoryNetworkofyoungresearchgroupsthatwillserveasanewparadigmforeducation,trainingandhighlycollaborativeresearchacrossAustralia.TheobjectiveistoenhanceAustralia’sinternationalcompetitivenessthelifesciences,andstrengthenitsemergingpositionasaworldleaderinbiotechnologyresearch.Asaresultofthecurrentresearchenvironment,EMBLAustraliaisnowabletoundertakeitsobjectivesof• establishingaPartnerLaboratoryNetworkacrossAustralia;• providingfirst‐classscientifictrainingandcollaborativeopportunitiesforAustralianlifescientists;
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• pursuingnewopportunitiesininternationalco‐fundingforresearch;and• exchangingexpertise,resources,services,andinnovationbetweenEuropeandAustralia.Through an active partnership with Europe’s premier research institute, the EMBL Australia Partner LaboratoryNetwork will seed a dynamic, highly collaborative culture across Australia, conducting research of the highestinternational standing and establishing collaborations,mentored and reviewed by theworld’s leading bioscienceresearchers. The nationally distributed Partner Laboratory Network will support early career research groups atNodesinMelbourneBrisbane,Sydney,andPerthmodeledalongtheEMBLresearchphilosophythatscientistshaveaccess and contribute to sharedworld‐class research infrastructure.Group Leaderswill be selected based on aninternationalsearchforscientificexcellenceandpromise,toensurethatonlythebestintheworldareappointed.The Partner Laboratory Network will attract state‐of‐the‐art infrastructure, developing andmaintaining nationalcore facilities operating at the leading edge of technology development, with direct links to expertise andinnovationacrossEurope.EMBLhasapprovedtheestablishmentofPartnerLaboratorygroupsatsitesthatareabletoprovideanappropriateenvironment for researchers,withmajorcapital investment instate‐of‐the‐art facilitiesand equipment. Host Universities and States have already committed $millions to the operational costs of thePartner Laboratory Network. As in Europe, where EMBL groups are funded through Federal Governmentagreements,supportissoughtfromtheAustralianGovernmentforthefullcostsofthenationalPartnerLaboratoryresearchgroups.2. Australian eResearch capacity and capability will be critical to maintaining international relevance anddevelopingaleadershippositionininternationalscientificresearchAlthough Australia boasts strong bioinformatics expertise, the community lacks a sustainable infrastructure forbiological information to support Australian life science research and its translation to medicine and theenvironment, the bio‐industries and society. The current NCRIS funded initiatives in computational biology(includingAustralianNationalDataService,BioplatformsAustraliaandtheAustraliaResearchCollaborativeService)have significantly enhanced Australia’s standing and international reputation in biology databases andbioinformatics.AkeyobjectiveofEMBLAustraliaistofurtherthispositionthroughjointprojectswiththeEMBL‐EBI,aworld centre forbiocomputinganddatabasedevelopment.TheEBI serves researchersbybuilding,maintainingand making available databases and information services relevant to molecular biology, bioinformatics andcomputational biology. EBI also coordinates the European Life Sciences Infrastructure For Biological Information(ELIXIR), a network of nodes distributed throughout Europe. Direct access to these major bioscience datainfrastructureresourceswillbeofgreatbenefittothedevelopmentofacoherenteResearchplatforminAustralia.Specifically, establishment of the EMBL Australia EBIMirror Facility at theUniversity of Queenslandwill providelocalaccesstoabroadselectionofEBIdatabases,analyticalworkflows&softwaretools,insomecasescustomisingthemtocomplementareasnotoptimallyaddressedbyEBIitself(e.g.agriculturalbiotechnology).ThemanybenefitstoAustraliaoftheEBImirrorfacilityinclude:• Establishinginternationalbestpracticeinbiosciencedataservice• Consolidating,extendingandleveraginginvestmentofNCRISfunding• ProvidingcompetitiveedgeforAustraliancompaniesinlifesciences,biotechnology&ICT• Attractingoverseasinvestmentinlifesciences,biotechnology&ICT• Enablinglocaldatacaptureandintegration,facilitatinguptakeofnewtechnologies• PromotingAustraliancollaborationin largeinternationaldata‐intensiveprojects,e.g. incancergenomics,with
high‐valuecomponenthereinAustralia• Facilitatingtransferofspecialistknowledgeandexposuretonewtools• OpportunitytocustomiseEBIresourcestospecialistrequirements,e.g.cropscience• DisseminatingAustralianbiosciencedatasetsandinfluenceonglobaldataresourcesthroughEBI• Providingworld‐classresourceforadvancedtrainingnationally®ionally• Providingspringboardforadvanced/specialisttrainingatEBI• Providingnewcapabilitiesenablingsystemsbiology• Enrichingandprovidingnewcareerpathsinlifesciences,biotechnologyandICT• IncreasingvisibilityofAustralianscienceviaintegrationofAustraliandata&tools• EnhancingreputationofAustralianscienceinregionandinternationally
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To support the Facility and to integrate the national bioinformatics capability, EMBL Australia is building theAustralianBioinformaticsNetwork,undertakeninconjunctionwithBioplatformsAustralia,CSIROandthenationalbioinformaticscommunity.Inthiscontext,bioinformaticsis interpretedbroadlytoincludegeneticsandgenomics,molecularbiology,computationalbiology,molecularimaging,biostatisticsandbiometry.The Australian Bioinformatics Network aims to foster a world class Bioinformatics capability for Australianresearchers by linking and supporting locally embedded bioinformatics practitioners and strategic bioinformaticssitesatuniversitiesandresearchorganizationsacrossAustralia.TheNetworkwillforgestronglinksbetweentheEBIMirror Facility and complementary national facilities, including the Centre for Comparative Genomics (MurdochUniversity), Systems Biology Initiative (UNSW) and promote the initiation of new national and internationalcollaborative research projects. In this way, the Network will act as a unifying agent to promote a nationalbioinformatics and biostatistics response to the increasing scientific challenges in computational and systemsbiology.TheAustralian BioinformaticsNetwork consists of critical hardware, various software applications and tools and,most importantly, people skills, all considered essential components of the eResearch infrastructure (DiscussionPaperpage53).WeareparticularlypleasedthatrecognitionofthepeoplecomponenthasbeenacknowledgedasintegraltotheeResearchinfrastructureandencouragethiscomponenttobereflectedinfuturefundingallocations.3.CurrentresearchinvestmentsandfundingshouldbemorecompetitivewithinternationalprogramsAustraliawasextendedEMBLAssociateMembership in recognitionof its strengths incellbiology, stemcellsandregenerative medicine, chemical biology, genetic epidemiology and clinical research. As our scientific progressincreasinglyrequiresinternationalcollaborationandislimitedbyarestrictedlocalfundingenvelope,EMBLAustraliaagreesthatthereisaneedtobetteraccessinternationalfundingsuchasFP8Scheme(DiscussionPaperpage32).As a bridge to the EuropeanMolecular Biology Laboratory, Europe’s pre‐eminent life sciences research institute,EMBLAustralia isuniquelyplacedto facilitateaccess to international funding, throughagreater involvementandexchangewithkeyEuropeanresearchorganisations. With laboratories inGermany, Italy,FranceandtheUK,andkey leadership in major initiatives within the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures, EMBL willprovideaccesstothecollaborationandfundinglinkagesrequiredintoday’sresearchenvironment.To this end, EMBL Australia is actively promoting exchangewith European science and research expertise. TheestablishmentoftheEBIMirrorFacility(above)isbutoneexamplebutotherinitiativesinclude• theEMBLAustraliainternationalPhDprogram,facilitatingopportunitiesforstudenttrainingattheEMBL• recent exchange visits by internationally recognised bioinformaticians from the EBI Dr Ewan Birney (policy
development)andRodrigoLopez(specialisedtraining)• multiplevisitsbyAustralianscientiststoEMBLfacilitiesinEurope.Australia currentlyhasawindowofopportunity to tap into thebestandbrightestmindsaround theglobe.Asacoordinating body, EMBL Australia will provide Australian life scientists access to state‐of‐the‐art core facilities,technologies, andexpertise inEurope. Itwill opennewopportunities forAustralians to forge collaborationswithEuropeanresearchnetworksand institutions,andtoaccessEuropeanfundingsources.EMBLAustraliaalsobringsthecapacitytodevelopthenextgenerationofAustralianleadersinbioscienceresearchthroughtheestablishmentof an EMBL Australia Partner Laboratory Network, which in turn will deliver on the promise of nationalinfrastructural innovation.ContinuedsupportforAustralia’sresearchinfrastructurethroughexpandedsupportforEMBLAustraliawillbecrucialtomaintainingthemomentumthathasbeendevelopedinAustraliabytheNCRISandSuperSciencefundingprograms.OnBehalfoftheEMBLAustraliaCouncil
ProfRichardLarkinsChairman
ProfNadiaRosenthalScientificHead
