Welcome to the UK Neuroinformatics Node
Background
Over the past 20 years, our understanding of the nervous system has expanded dramatically. We now have detailed knowledge of the nerve cell, its subcellular components and how groups of cells influence each other. But what we don't yet know is how the many different components of the brain and other parts of the nervous system come together to form a properly-functioning entity. Managing this diversity of data and integrating different theories of nervous system function requires teamwork across disciplines.
Practitioners within mathematics, physics and engineering have developed great expertise for dealing with complex data and managing exploratory theories. Neuroinformatics is an emerging field fostering multidisciplinary work between the physical and the life sciences towards understanding the brain and the nervous system.
The UK Neuroinformatics Node
This is a network of UK researchers working in the emerging field of neuroinformatics. Formed in January 2008 as a successor to the UK Neuroinformatics Network, it organises a set of activities to strengthen and develop UK neuroinformatics.
The Node also acts as the UK hub of the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF). This is an international body, currently subscribed to by 15 member countries. It has a programme of activities dealing with neuroinformatics issues that require coordination at the international level, such as: how to share data or models, how to store data long term, how to interlink current brain atlases, how to organise the best training for neuroinformatics.
Aims and Objectives of the Node
The Node aims to establish a forum for the UK neuroinformatics community, and to define and action a set of activities that will identify issues critical to the field. The forum will provide a channel for discussion, a means for developing neuroinformatics, and a voice to represent the community in discussions with other scientific areas, commercial organisations, funding/governmental and international agencies.
Specific objectives are
- To facilitate dialogue and promote awareness:
- To facilitate interactions between neuroinformatics practitioners within the UK and between the UK and other countries;
- To facilitate participation in INCF activities that are appropriate for the UK;
- To stimulate interest in UK neuroinformatics within other scientific, medical and commercial communities and within funding bodies and governmental agencies.
- To stimulate new work involving neuroinformatics.
- To support neuroinformatics education and training.
- To play a leading role in UK's strategy in neuroinformatics.
- To ensure sustainability of neuroinformatics resources.
