INCF Norwegian Node

The Global Science Forum of the OECD has initiated a new international organization, the International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF), to further the development of neuroinformatics as a global effort. Presently, there are twelve member states, including Norway. The main secretariat is located at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm with Prof. Jan G. Bjaalie as Executive Director. For more information on INCF, see http://www.incf.org/.

Following an application to the Norwegian Research Council in June 2006, a national node of INCF, INCF Norway, has been established at the Center for Molecular Biology and Neurosciences at the University of Oslo. The node has been granted an annual funding from the Norwegian Research Council of NOK 800,000 for a five-year period, and is lead by Gaute T. Einevoll (prof., UMB; adj. prof., UiO) and Johan Storm (prof., UiO).

In neuroinformatics the use of methods from computer science, mathematics and statistics are used to strengthen neuroscience research. More specifically, neuroinformatics encompasses:

  • establishment and use of data and knowledge bases;
  • development of tools for analysis, visualization and distribution of neuroscience data;
  • computational neuroscience.

INCF Norway will promote the development and use of neuroinformatics methods to strengthen both basal and clinical neuroscience research in Norway. We will do this on the basis of several activities:

  • Support for specific projects on
    • small research projects with a large neuroinformatics component, preferably involving both experimental neuroscientists and modellers/computer scientists;
    • adaptation of existing neuroinformatics tools;
    • preparation of research project applications with neuroinformatics component;
    • participation in workshops and conferences with neuroinformatics component;
    • visits to or from strong neuroinformatics groups;
    • organization of small neuroinformatics meetings or workshops.

    The typical size of these projects might be in the range from NOK 10,000 to NOK 100,000. Project applications can be submitted at any time. The first round of applications were evaluated this summer, 2007. For more info on how to apply see Project application.

  • Organization of meetings and small courses on specific neuroinformatics topics, f.ex.,
    • use of neuroinformatics simulation and analysis tools;
    • background for or use of brain imaging techniques (MRI, fMRI, PET, ...);
    • computational neuroscience methods;
    • modelling of certain part of the nervous system (e.g., single neuron modelling, visual system network modelling, …)
  • Collect and present information of neuroinformatics activities in Norway. This information will be presented at this web-site. We plan to have a first version of this survey ready by Summer 2007.