The Norwegian national node of International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility (INCF-N) - Phase 2: 2011-2016

Neuroscience research is dependent on a wide range of methods for understanding how the brain works, generating enormous amounts of data. In order to fully utilize these large data sets, researchers need access to infrastructure, including physical resources, standards for data and experiments, and structures for collaboration. The International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility, INCF, was founded by the OECD for this purpose, and strives to develop tools and mechanisms for facilitating neuroscience research worldwide. The Norwegian Node of the INCF has coordinated activities at the national level, organized around the programs of the global network: 1) Brain atlasing, 2) Consistent terminology for structures of the brain, 3) Sharing of data from the brain, 4) Computerized modeling and simulation of the functions of the brain, and 5) Training in the use of neuroinformatics tools. The overall purpose has been to facilitate integration of data in order to increase the understanding of the brain in health and disease. The Norwegian node has delivered - online atlases of brain data with advanced tools for viewing and analyses of data, and for using data in new combinations, facilitating ongoing projects for research groups in Norway and at the international level - online atlases of the hippocampal region in particular, facilitating ongoing research on learning and memory, and use of the hippocampal region as a model system for many investigations by researchers in Norway and at the international level - collections of terminologies and definitions coupled to atlases and linked to centralized web-catalogues maintained by international neuroinformatics projects, in particular focusing on the hippocampal region in collaboration with research groups in Norway active in this field - new or improved tools for analysis of electrophysiological data collected from nerve cells and groups of cells, describing the activity of the cells under various conditions. The tools have been developed in collaboration with several research groups in Norway, who are also users of the tools. - new and improved tools and standards for modeling of networks in the brain, directly relevant for ongoing projects in several research groups in Norway. The Norwegian node contributed to development of material for courses aimed at training of researchers in all aspects of neuroinformatics, and made full use of training material from the global network of the organization. The node organized meetings and events for researchers in Norway and for participants in the global network related to training in selected areas.

Hundreds of millions of people in the world suffer from some kind of neurological disease: 50 million people have epilepsy; 62 million are affected by cerebrovascular disease; 326 million people suffer from migraine; 24 million are affected by Alzheimer d isease and other dementias (WHO, "Neurological disorders - public health challenges", 2006). Neuroscience research is dependent on a wide range of methods for understanding how the brain works. Such research include computer modeling, imaging techniques, and other methods which generates enormous amounts of data. In order to fully utilize these large data sets, researchers need access to infrastructure, including physical resources (computer grids); standards for data and experiments; and structures for c ollaboration. The International Neuroinformatics Coordinating Facility, INCF, was founded by the OECD for this purpose, and strives to achieve tools for facilitating neuroscience research worldwide. The Norwegian Node of the INCF coordinates activities at the national level and is organized around the programs of the global network: 1) Brain atlasing, 2) Consistent terminology for structures of the brain, 3) Sharing of data from the brain, and 4) Computerized modeling and simulation of the functions of th e brain. The overall purpose of the programs is to facilitate integration of data in order to increase the understanding of the brain in health and disease. The Norwegian node will in particular deliver - online atlases of brain data with advanced tools f or viewing and analyses of data, and for using data in new combinations, facilitating ongoing projects for research groups in Norway and at the international level - online atlases of the hippocampal region in particular, facilitating ongoing research on learning and memory, and use of the hippocampal region as a model system for many investigations by researchers in Norway and at the international level - collections of terminologies and definitions coupled to atlases and linked to centralized webcatalog ues maintained by international neuroinformatics projects, in particular focusing on the hippocampal region in collaboration with research groups in Norway active in this field - new or improved tools for analysis of electrophysiological data collected fr om nerve cells and groups of cells, describing the activity of the cells under various conditions. The tools will be developed in collaboration with several research groups in Norway, who will also be users of the tools. - new and improved tools and stand ards for modeling of networks in the brain, directly relevant for ongoing projects in several research groups in Norway. The Norwegian node will also contribute to development of material for courses aimed at training of researchers in all aspects of neur oinformatics, and make full use of training material made available through the global network of the organization. The node will organize meetings and events for researchers in Norway and for participants in the global network related to training in sele cted areas.