Eero Vuorio 5 th EPSO Conference, Olos, Aug 29, 2010
Biocenter Finland in a nutshell Founded in August 2006 by six Finnish Universities the Biocenter Finland today functions as an umbrella organization for six biocenters and one associate biocenter comprising; more than 200 principal investigators and 2000 other scientists working in different fields of biological and medical sciences; about 20 doctoral training programmes ( graduate schools ) with about 1000 trainees; opportunities for structured research career; a nationwide network of infrastructures and technology service platforms for the entire scientific community; technology transfer support.
Otsikko Biocenters in Oulu, Kuopio, Tampere, Turku and Helsinki (2) = local collaboration of all major biological and medical research groups; multidisciplinary research programmes, joint investments in equipment, core facilities and researcher training. For 2010 2012 Biocenter Finland received 45 mill to support its nine research infrastructure networks with an aim to restructure national technology services. Biocenter Finland also provides an interface to the European Research Infrastructures on the ESFRI Roadmap.
Biocenter Finland infrastructure networks bioinformatics biological imaging genome-wide methods model organisms proteomics and metabolomics stem cells and biomaterials structural biology and biophysics translational research technologies viral gene transfer and cell therapy
Principles in restructuring and developing Biocenter Finland infrastructures and technology services Joint agreement on organisation and division of responsibilities Avoidance of overlapping investments and activities Services offered to all scientists working in Biocenters, other Universities and other research performing organisations Development of synergies (expertise, training) International collaboration especially with BMS (Biological and Medical Sciences) Research Infrastructures on the ESFRI Roadmap New technological developments
National Imaging Infrastructure Network (NIIN) Three technology service platforms: - Electron microscopy -Light microscopy - In vivo imaging Electron microscopy technology platform Service providers: BCH, BI, BCO Summary of services: Three-dimensional imaging; personal user support and general support activities; maintenance of imaging systems; teaching activities; data processing Light microscopy technology platform Service providers: BCH, BI, BCO, BCK, IMT, BioCity Summary of services: High resolution light microscopy; label-free technologies; light microscopy for studying biological interactions; training, consultation and support National in vivo imaging technology platform Service providers: BCH, BCK, BioCity Summary of services: MRI; PET; optical imaging; from consultation and training to full service ESFRI-connection: EuroBioImaging
Proteomics and metabolomics Infrastructure Network (ProtMet) Two technology service platforms: - Proteomics & protein characterisation - Metabolomics Proteomics & protein characterisation technology platform Service providers: BCH, BI, BCO, IMT, BioCity Summary of services: protein identification and quantitation; protein modifications; protein kinetics; metabolite screening; education; data analysis; focussed services, phased technology Metabolomics technology platform Service providers: BCH, BCK, FIMM (in cooperation with VTT) Summary of services: targeted plant and microbial metabolomics; nontargeted metabolite profiling analyses; targeted quantitative high-throughput analyses for medical applications ESFRI-connections: BBMRI and EATRIS
Involvement of Biocenter Finland partners in BMS ESFRI projects of the first and second roadmaps BBMRI Translational research technologies Infrastructure Network and Genome-wide methods Infrastructure Network (BI/BCH/THL/FIMM) EATRIS Translational research technologies Infrastructure Network (FIMM) ECRIN Viral gene transfer and cell therapy Infrastructure Network (BCK) ELIXIR Bioinformatics Infrastructure Network (CSC - IT Center for Science) EU-Openscreen Translational research technologies Infrastructure Network (FIMM) EuroBioImaging National Imaging Infrastructure Network (BioCity) INFRAFRONTIER Model organisms Infrastructure Network (BCO) INSTRUCT Structural Biology Infrastructure Network (BCH/BI)
Proposed hub-and-spoke structure of distributed European infrastructure (BBMRI) Central coordinatio (statutory seat) National Nodes Biobanks Biomolecular res. Technology centers Common services Associated partners Hospitals Universities Service providers
Other funding schemes of Biocenter Finland in 2010-12 In addition to funding for technology service platforms (research infrastructures), Biocenter Finland also supports: -recruitment of foreign graduate students into doctoral training programmes in Finnish biocenters, -development of research career structure and recruitment of scientists from abroard to bring expertise in novel technologies or underrepresented fields to Finland, -proof-of-concept verification of basic research finding, and -identification of emerging technologies in life sciences.
Staff: Eero Vuorio, director eero.vuorio@helsinki.fi Tero Ahola, scientific coordinator tero.ahola@helsinki.fi Sanna Leinonen, planning officer sanna.p.leinonen@helsinki.fi Chair of Biocenter Finland Board: Olli Silvennoinen, professor olli.silvennoinen@uta.fi