This document outlines the agenda and goals for a meeting to discuss expanding the UK node of ELIXIR, the European infrastructure for biological information. The meeting will include introductions, a presentation on the criteria for new resources to join ELIXIR-UK, an open discussion, and breakout groups. The expansion aims to have ELIXIR-UK better represent the breadth of UK bioinformatics infrastructure. New members would benefit from influence and recognition, while needing to provide sustainable resources, participate in activities, and work towards interoperability. Expressions of interest will be evaluated based on criteria like alignment with ELIXIR themes, impact, and long-term sustainability. Outcomes may include becoming an official ELI

1. European LifeSciences Infrastructure for Biological Information
www.elixir-uk.org
Growing ELIXIR-UK
the UK Node of the
Carole Goble
John Hancock
Alf Game

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Agenda:
12:30-1:00 – Arrivals
1:00-1:10 –Welcome (Carole)
1:10-1:30 – Round table introductions
1:30-2:00 – Presentation on criteria (John/Alf)
2:00-2:30 – Open Discussion (Carole/John/Alf)
2:30-3:00 - Coffee (could shorten)
3:00-3:50 – Breakouts
3:50-4:00 – Sum up (Carole/John/Alf)

3. Brief intro to ELIXIR-UK
ELIXIR-UK Node Expansion
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medicine
agriculture
bioindustries
environment
ELIXIR connects national
bioinformatics centres and
EMBL-EBI into a sustainable
European infrastructure for
biological research data
ELIXIR underpins life
science research – across
academia and industry

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Interim Head of Node
Carole Goble
Node Coordinator
John Hancock
ELIXIR-UK

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Leads two major ELIXIR platforms:
Training…
Data
Standards
Tools
Compute
Training
Technical platforms
• Technical infrastructure for training (TeSS)
• Develop training expertise
• Training quality
• Fill training gaps (e.g. Software and Data Carpentry)
Joint Lead:
Chris Ponting
GOBLET Liaison
and TeSS Lead
Terri Attwood
Training Coordination
Committee:
Rita Hendricusdottir

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Leads 2 major ELIXIR platforms:
…and Interoperability
• Identifiers & (meta)data descriptions, linked to Use Case packages
• Consolidate existing services
• Implement interoperability between priority resources
• BYOD bootcamps
Data
Standards
Tools
Compute
Training
Technical platforms
Joint Lead:
Carole Goble
Susanna Sansone
Oxford

8. ELIXIR-UK Should:
Represent the breadth of UK
bioinformatics data and tools
infrastructure in ELIXIR
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Most ELIXIR Nodes represent their country’s
strengths in bioinformatics
The UK Node cannot currently do so because
of its training remit
ELIXIR-UK already leads ELIXIR’s Platform
development on Interoperability despite this
being outside its remit

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Node Expansion

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How Will It
Happen?

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Invited
Resources
Open
Call
Scientific
Development
Group
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f
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Evaluation
Criteria
ELIXIR-
UK
Executive
ELIXIR
Hub
ELIXIR
SAB
ELIXIR
Board
Working
Groups
YOU ARE HERE

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ELIXIR-UK Scientific Development Group
Alf Game (chair)
Mark Bailey (NERC/CEH)
Win Hide (Sheffield)
Simon Hubbard (Manchester)
Nick Luscombe (UCL/Crick)
Sean May (Nottingham)
Andrew Morris (Edinburgh)
Chris Rawlings (Rothamsted)
Denis Shields (UCD)
Will Spooner (Eagle Genomics)
Mike Sternberg (Imperial)
David Westhead (Leeds)

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Benefits and
Obligations

15. Benefits
• Influence the development of a major effort in data
integration
• Standards, implementations, tools
• Exposure to a wide range of potential users and collaborators
across Europe and globally
• Recognition as a core data resource on a par with EBI and SIB
resources
• ELIXIR “badge” may be useful for future funding
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16. Obligations
• Provide your dataset or tool on a stable (sustainable) basis
• Work towards closer integration with ELIXIR interoperability
standards
• Participate in ELIXIR activities
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How Can I Get
Involved?

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Expressions of Interest

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Criteria

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1. Alignment with the five ELIXIR
infrastructure themes (data, tools, compute,
interoperability, training).
It is to be expected that any resource put
forward by the node will fit under one of these
five categories and will make a significant
contribution to the ELIXIR infrastructure.
An important element of any such case will be
filling unmet need within the current set of
ELIXIR resources.

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2. Strong complementarity to the 2014-18
ELIXIR programme, i.e. provides a strong
contribution to the ELIXIR vision.
Resources should be directly relevant to work
packages in EXCELERATE or to other ongoing
ELIXIR activities.

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3. Complementarity to ELIXIR-UK strategic
themes:
• Human clinical and health omics and related areas in health
informatics
• Agricultural omics and related data resources.These may include
data generated up to and including an environmental scale
• Image informatics (including atlases)
• Structural bioinformatics
• Technical infrastructure for interoperability and training including
standards
• Innovative resources in other areas with the potential to be of
international importance.

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4. Potential for cross-node collaborations.
Identify opportunities for collaborations with
ELIXIR activities in other ELIXIR Nodes,
including the EBI.
If such collaborations are already underway or
concretely planned, please provide evidence.
Note that resources put forward by ELIXIR-UK
should have UK leadership, where UK for these
purposes does not include EBI.

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5. Provide comparable impact to existing
ELIXIR resources from other Nodes already
accepted by the ELIXIR SAB, i.e. be seen as
critical data sources either to the broad
bioinformatics community or to a specific user
community.
High impact within a single user community
supported by ELIXIR will be considered on an
equivalent level to impact on the wider
community.

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6. Resource contribution to wider EU
infrastructures and integration.
7. Ability to interoperate with other ELIXIR
resources, e.g. via a publicAPI and the use of
accepted standards and terminology, or
willingness to achieve this status

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8. Evidence of community outreach and
adoption.
9. Leadership in data stewardship within a
community, for example but not necessarily as
a community database for a particular research
community.

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10. Evidence of long-term sustainability.
Evidence of as many of the following as
possible should be provided:
• Previous funding track record. Provide dates, amounts and sources
of previous and current funding streams (applications in progress
may be included here or under c)
• Strategic commitment from host institution, funder or other
organisation. Provide written confirmation of any such commitment
including scale and duration.
• Plan for future funding.

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What will the
Outcomes Be?

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A. ELIXIR Named Service
B. Join ELIXIR-UK Roadmap
C. Inappropriate for ELIXIR (at
present)

30. EoI Deadline: 31st March 2016
Send to john.hancock@tgac.ac.uk
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31. Links and Contacts
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Carole Goble: carole.goble@Manchester.ac.uk
John Hancock: john.hancock@tgac.ac.uk
Alf Game: tatterdemalion.solutions@btinternet.com
ELIXIR Web Site: http://www.elixir-europe.org
Current list of resources: http://www.elixir-europe.org/services

32. QUESTIONS?
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