Training

Background and motivation
This workshop has been scheduled to follow the publication of a Nature Reviews Drug Discovery editorial on pre-competitive opportunities to generate reference biological datasets (NRDD, 13(2) 83-84) "Precompetitive activity to address the biological data needs of drug discovery". The purpose of the workshop is to link those with shared interests, to identify areas of need as well as to maximise the impact and sustainability of these resources. The workshop will also discuss funding models and relationships with funding agencies/academic partners.

Biologists engaged in drug target discovery, validation and safety evaluation routinely require reference biological data to answer apparently simple questions, such as: "In which tissues is my target gene expressed?" However, as the complexity of biological knowledge increases, so do their expectations. For example, the question becomes: "What splice variants exist for my target gene, and in which tissues are they expressed?"

The focus of the workshop will be on: small pre-competitive projects to generate reference biological data sets' such as the Cell Line Repository, Causal Interactions database and Splice variant expression atlas.'

The aims of the workshop are to:

• Present some examples of pre-competitive project discussions that have been generated through the EMBL-EBI Industry Programme.
• Identify additional areas of interest that could the basis for future pre-competitive projects
• Connect and encourage discussion between Pharma, SMEs and other potential funders/stakeholders.
• Discuss mechanisms for kick-starting future pre-competitive projects.
• Understand different types of open innovation.
• Exploring funding models.

Participation
Participation is open to members of the EMBL-EBI Industry programme AND any other interested parties (small registration charge of £60 as a contribution to cost of catering).
As part of the registration process individuals who wish to present on the afternoon of June 18 are invited to submit an abstract to propose a presentation (closing date May 29th 2014). The organising
committee will then decide which proposals most closely match the theme of the workshop and individuals submitting proposals will be contacted by the organisers. The proposals most closely related to the theme of the workshop will be added to the agenda on the afternoon of 18 June with additional discussion on 19 June. Details of how to submit your abstract will be given in your registration confirmation email.