Facing the Systems Biology challenge

The development of Systems Biology in Canada will require adaptation to a new scientific reality at multiple levels. It is clear that the biosciences have entered an era where researchers with different expertises must work in close collaboration to address increasingly complex biological, technological and medical problems. Researchers, institutions and federal and provincial governments should take concrete steps to ensure that the Canadian public and economy benefit optimally from this new opportunity by facilitating and promoting the transition of Canadian research into the Systems Biology era.

Researchers should actively acquire the knowledge outside of their field of specialty required to efficiently exchange ideas with experts from other disciplines. To assist researchers in addressing this challenge, for example through workshops, site visits and exchange programs, the formative process for establishing a Canadian Society for Systems Biology was initiated by the scientific community in late 2005.

Institutions and provincial governments should actively promote and encourage interdisciplinary and collaborative research endeavours and educational programs. This integration and migration of scientific knowledge is a cornerstone in the formation of cohesive Systems Biology research groups, centres and institutes. A paradigmatic shift in education due to the new scientific reality will continue to affect virtually all biological and biomedical disciplines. There is a clear need for developing integrated cross-disciplinary educational programs. Substantial commitments should be made specifically for Systems Biology in terms of capital investments that can bring scientists from different disciplines together, and in the development of frameworks for resource management and interdisciplinary education. Additionally, research institutions should encourage and support Systems Biology research by developing clear career paths and opportunities in collaborative and integrative science.

The Government of Canada should implement appropriate measures to support Systems Biology research and education. To bring Canada to an internationally competitive level, the Canadian funding agencies and the Government of Canada should provide new funding in four key areas:

• The characterisation of the components, the interactions and the dynamics of complex biological systems through genome- and systems-scale analysis and experimentation.
• The development of accessible Systems Biology technology platforms, including technologies for automated high throughput and quantitative experimentation, cross-platform data integration and analysis, and systems-level simulations.
• The exploration and elucidation of the fundamental principles that govern information processing and dynamics at different levels of biological organization and across their boundaries.
• The education and training of highly qualified personnel to enhance the capacity for innovation in academia and industry, and provide the next generation of Systems Biology researchers.

Because faculty development and capital investments in these areas depend on institutional priorities, there is a clear need for institutional incentives to engage in long-term initiatives. A strong commitment in terms of operational funding from the Government of Canada could provide such an incentive and catalyse institutional and provisional prioritization in Systems Biology.