Commissioned Services: Science

Biodiversity, food security and pathogens 

Start date: 1 January 2024

Duration: 36 months

Abstract 

In the priorities of the ELIXIR Scientific Programme 2024-2028, molecular science connecting biodiversity, food security and pathogens has been identified as a societal challenge and scientific opportunity set as a core domain that shapes ELIXIR's activities. The Programme stresses that the application of molecular techniques is critical to understand the diversity and breadth of life on Earth. In other words, the diversity of life, rapidly changing climate, increasing contact between the natural world and humans can influence emerging infectious agents which impact not only humans, but also farmed animals, crops and wildlife.

The Commissioned Service contributes to that Priority through the provision of leadership, community engagement and open project calls:

• Leadership and Strategy: A team drives strategy, supported by the ELIXIR Hub.
• Community Engagement: ELIXIR Community Members are engaged via meetings and calls.
• Pilot studies and open calls: Members submit projects aligned with the roadmap.

This effort connects the ELIXIR Communities and Nodes in their response to advances in biodiversity, food security and pathogens and enables these advances to contribute to wider research questions.

Cellular and molecular research 

Start date: 1 January 2024

Duration: 36 months

Abstract 

In the priorities of the ELIXIR Scientific Programme 2024-2028, leveraging cellular and molecular biology advancements is identified as a core domain that shapes ELIXIR's activities. The Programme stresses bioinformatics and cellular/molecular biology's role in solving global challenges and seeks to build a data-centric infrastructure, requiring strategic planning, partnerships, and funding engagement. 

The commissioned service contributes to that Priority through the provision of leadership, community engagement, and open project calls:

• Leadership and Strategy: A team drives strategy, supported by ELIXIR Hub.
• Community Engagement: ELIXIR Community Members are engaged via meetings and calls.
• Pilot studies and Open Calls: Members submit projects aligned with the roadmap.

This effort connects the ELIXIR Communities and Nodes in their response to advances in cellular and molecular research and enables these advances to contribute to wider research questions.

Human data and translational research

Proposed start date: 1 January 2024

Duration: 36 months

Abstract 

Human Data and Translational Research is a high priority for ELIXIR and builds on the progress made in the previous programmes by the Human Data Communities. Within the Science tier of the ELIXIR 2024–2028 Programme, advances will be focussed on enabling researchers (including research clinicians) to use ELIXIR’s infrastructure, for human genomic, phenotypic, imaging and demographic data to support discovery, analysis, innovation and integration of research findings into the clinic and healthcare. More specifically, through our objectives we will ensure:

• Millions of human genomes are discoverable and exploited in a biomedical setting through ELIXIR-supported infrastructure and community-endorsed standards, software, workflows and analysis environments across ELIXIR Nodes
• Federated analysis of data is demonstrated for use, for example, in rare disease, cancer, common complex disease, preventative disease, pharmacogenomic studies
• Partnerships linking human data to other disciplines and infrastructures are well established and mechanisms for data deposition are defined and agreed across Nodes
• Industry supports the deployment of the EU data spaces by providing solutions based on ELIXIR-supported standards

To further genomics research capabilities, ELIXIR plans to continue to have a lead role in developing data services, management and practices in this area, supported by the ELIXIR platforms, ELIXIR Nodes and externally funded initiatives. By building upon the network of ELIXIR experts we will ensure interoperability across different data spaces and establish a FAIR and federated data ecosystem.

Through open calls, community face-to-face meetings, workshops, new community engagements and strategic partnerships we will enable scientists to access, deposit and analyse human genomic data, and to link data on a massive scale to ensure knowledge exchange and interoperability across Europe and beyond.

By mapping the needs in the genomic data space in conjunction with scientific groups, Nodes, Communities, and European and International Initiatives, we will join efforts to build a larger infrastructure where data can be securely accessed and used with the aim to improve health and have a positive impact on preventive medicine and healthcare overall.