Questionnaire on Neuroinformatics in the UK

Neuroinformatics is concerned with the application of techniques from the mathematical, physical, engineering and computing sciences to neuroscience research questions.

Progress in neuroscience requires the integration of knowledge at many different levels of the nervous system, across many different spatial and temporal scales. Neuroinformatics can support neuroscience in lots of ways, including the application of techniques for the efficient integration and sharing of data, for mathematical analysis and for computational modelling. This can facilitate the testing of hypotheses and increase the scope of experiments that can be performed.

To gauge the interest amongst UK neuroscientists in neuroinformatics, the UK Neuroinformatics Network has devised this questionnaire. It is designed to answer two key questions:

What interest in neuroinformatics is there within the UK neuroscience community?
What are the specific neuroinformatics interests of people within the UK?

We will be very grateful for your responses to the following questions. All answers will be treated in strict confidence. The results of the questionnaire will be collated in a form that will not identify specific respondents. The results will be communicated to MRC, EPSRC and BBSRC, the joint funders of the Network, and will be posted on this website.

It is expected that the results of this questionnaire will inform UK policy on neuroinformatics. One current issue concerns the role that the UK might play in international neuroinformatics, particularly in the recently formed International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility.

Each text field where an extended answer is required allows 320 characters, which is around 4 lines.

GENERAL

1. What is the general question that you are seeking to answer in your research?:

(Hint: think about the 'headline message' of your grant proposals)

2. To what part of the nervous system does your work relate?:

ABOUT YOUR DATA

3. Describe the data with which you work:

Eg: imaging data, spike trains, single cell recordings, simulated data.

4. By what technique(s) do you obtain your data?:

Eg: by recording spike trains, by imaging synapses, by accessing databases over the internet.

5. Describe what you do with your data.:

Eg: compute spike train statistics, construct a multicompartmental model.

6.What are the issues and problems relating to data that you encounter in your research with which neuroinformatics might help?:

Eg: I have too much experimental data to handle; How do I quantify the differences between spike trains?

7. Are there recognised ways of storing your type of data electronically?:

YES

If YES, what are they?:

If NO, would you benefit from a standard storage method?:

YES

8. Do you share your data electronically?:

YES

If YES, (a) how do you do this?:

(b) What issues or problems arise?:

Eg: speed of transfer, ethical problems, compatability problems.

If NO, would sharing data be of benefit to you?:

YES

If you have chosen YES just above, what would make it easier for your to share data?:

If you have chosen NO just above, why would sharing data not be of benefit to you?:

MODELLING

9. Do you use computational modelling in your work?:

YES

If YES, (a) describe the purpose of the modelling:

(b) What simulators do you use or do you write your own programs?:

YES

10. If you do not use computational modelling, what are the reasons for this?:

Lack of knowledge

Lack of suitable tools

Other (please give details below)

Other reasons for not using computational modelling:

DATA ANALYSIS

11. Do you use mathematical tools to analyse your data (over and above simple statistics)?:

YES

If YES, (a) describe the purpose of the analysis:

(b) What tools do you use or do you write your own analysis programs?:

YES

12. If you do not use tools to analyse your data, what are the reasons for this?:

Lack of knowledge

Lack of suitable tools to help

Other (please give details below)

Other reasons for not using analytical tools:

ABOUT YOUR COLLABORATIONS

13. Do you have formal collaborations?:

Other countries with whom you collaborate:

14. If you collaborate, what form does this take?:

Other forms of collaboration:

15. Please specify collaborations that you would like to have:

16. If you have specified desired collaborations in Q15, what would help you to achieve them?:

Better technical support or infrastructure, eg being able to share information/data/tools

Availability of like-minded colleagues with complementary skills

Availability of suitable funding mechanisms

Other (please give details below)

Other ways of fostering collaborations:

ABOUT YOU

17. Would you benefit from receiving training in neuroinformatics?:

YES

If YES, in what particular branch of neuroinformatics?:

If NO, why not?:

18. Are you:

PhD student

Postdoctoral researcher

Member of academic staff

Researcher in a commercial organisation

Other (please give details below)

Your status:

19. Please state the town/city in which you work:

20. Do you have any other comments that you would like to make?:

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Questionnaire on Neuroinformatics in the UK