Research for Systems Biology

Innovations are the basis of progress and development in every society.They ensure lasting growth, economic vitality and the ability to compete on an international level. For this purpose the Federal Government, with its "Hightech Strategy" for Germany, specifically supports scientific disciplines with a high potential for innovation.

Specifically, innovative potential is seen in the young scientific discipline of systems biology. Systems biology is a new, revolutionary branch of science with the potential to fundamentally change life sciences and to generate completely new insights for biomedical research as well as for industry and agriculture. Its primary goal is to understand life processes. Systems biology seeks to create a holistic picture of dynamic life processes with regard to all levels – from the genome via the proteome and the organization of cell organelles up to the complete cell and even to the entire organism. To accomplish this ambitious task, systems biology combines quantitative methods used in molecular biology with knowledge from the fields of mathematics, informatics, and systems science.

Early on, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) recognized the significance of systems biology. Already in 2001, with a call for proposals entitled "Systems of Life – Systems Biology", the ministry launched a promotion of this innovative research field. The pilot project ´HepatoSys´ was initiated and has since developed into an internationally recognized network of expertise on the "liver system model".

Within the framework of the BMBF´s Hightech Strategy, the systematic development of measures for stimulating the field of systems biology was promoted on both national and international levels. The encouragement of work in systems biology in Germany was further advanced through the promotional focus of FORSYS. The establishment of four FORSYS centers in 2007 made the structural and content requirements for work in systems biology more available. In addition to creating an interdisciplinary basis for research in systems biology ´under one umbrella´, they also provide the basis for the creation of educational opportunities in this young field. A second initiative, FORSYS-Partner (FORSYS collaborations and FORSYS junior scientist groups), was announced in 2007 and aims to further strengthen the field of systems biology in Germany. The transfer of knowledge between the existing FORSYS centers and their academic and industrial partners is facilitated by FORSYS collaborations; FORSYS junior scientist groups make it possible for young scientists to do independent reseach and thus make full use of their creative potential.

In addition to this national commitment, the BMBF also takes part in the development of European assistance measures for systems biology. In 2006, within the framework of the ERA-Net ERASYSBIO, the BMBF, together with six European partners, announced the transnational assistance measure SysMo (systems biology on microorganisms) . The promotion of transnational group projects began in 2007 and, due to its success, will be continued. Beyond that, another European request for proposals for work in systems biology is being prepared, significantly supported by Germany and the United Kingdom.

ERASysBio represents Germany on an international level. ERASysBio as a network paves the way for interactions beyond national borders. In doing so, it supports projects which both expand the science of systems biology and take on coordinational tasks that support this development.

Project Management Jülich gives a quick overview of all possible applications together with corresponding deadlines.

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