Neuroinformatics combines neuroscience and informatics research to develop and apply the advanced tools and approaches that are essential for major advances in understanding the structure and function of the brain.
| 1st UK Node Congress |
Analysing and modelling neural systems in health and diseaseHeld: 1-3 February 2010, Informatics Forum, University of Edinburgh
Please click here for the Steering Committee’s report on the Congress.
The conference brought together people who are already working in the field of neuroinformatics as well as showcasing the opportunities in neuroinformatics to people working in related disciplines. There were plenary talks which covered different aspects of analysis and modelling in addition to posters and demonstrations. There was a set of stimulating collaborative workshop sessions on a variety of topics will be hosted: the formation of a Road Map for UK Neuroinformatics; a skills-interchange forum involving case studies of neuroinformatics-related problems and solutions; opportunities for collaboration within INCF.
Road Map of UK neuroinformatics: Road Maps frequently are used in other disciplines and are useful to funding bodies in setting funding priorities. In this workshop, we built on contributions pre-collected from the community to establish the current terrain of neuroinformatics and the future prospects. This workshop was a set of group discussions held in parallel followed by an integration in a plenary session. The questions covered included: 1. What is the state-of-the-art in the field? 2. What are the significant bottlenecks to your research? 3. What are the resources that you would like the INCF to help maintain? 4. Do you have tools that you would like to offer to the community? 5. With which research groups would you like to make contact? 6. What is your vision for where the field will be in 5-10 years time? 7. What do we need to get there, in terms of funding, research or tools development? A report from the Roadmap can be found here.
Showcasing UK neuroinformatics: This workshop was made up of short presentations, together with a set of spotlight presentations highlighting posters and demonstrations. The presentations were contributions from people in the UK who work in the field of neuroinformatics and were sought before the conference.
Skills-exchange forum: The object of this workshop was to bring together people with specific neuroinformatics expertise with people who have need for neuroinformatics input in their work. The workshop was based on the contributions from participants made before the Conference and so proposals of specific cases were solicited ahead of time. The presentation began with two case studies: one highlights a successful interdisciplinary exchange; the other features discussion of partners being sought. The remainder of the workshop was devoted to discussions in small groups and there was a closing summary made to the plenary meeting. A Report from the skills-exchange forum can be found here.
Collaborations with INCF: our Keynote Speaker, Professor Sten Grillner, Chairman of the Governing Board of the INCF, introduced the INCF to us. He outlined its scope and ambitions, concentrating on the key programmes of the INCF. His talk was complemented by another from Professor Jaap van Pelt, the Netherlands Node representative. There was then a discussion on the ways in which workers in the UK can contribute to and benefit from the programmes of the INCF.
Plenary and workshop speakers: Professor Peter Dayan, Gatsby Computational Neuroscience Unit, UCL – Click here to view presentation Professor Anthony Strong, Kings College London Professor Stuart Baker, University of Newcastle Professor Michael Frank, Brown University, USA – Click here to view presentation Professor Klaas Stephan, University of Zurich – Click here to view presentation Professor Kevan Martin, Institute of Neuroinformatics, Zurich Professor Angus Silver, University College London Professor Sten Grillner, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm Professor Jaap van Pelt, CNCR, VU University Amsterdam – Click here to view presentation Professor Jim Austin, University of York – Click here to view presentation
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