ELIXIR Focus Groups are agile structures that bring interested parties together around a particular topic. Typically they are used to address emerging areas of interest and seek to identify a strategy that ELIXIR can follow.
Establishing a Focus Group may lead to a new ELIXIR Community, but that is not the default intention. In most cases that will not happen. In addition, it will not be a requirement for a proposed new Community to have previously been a Focus Group.
Focus Groups are open to any member of ELIXIR plus, where useful, external parties. They are established by a lightweight approval process, at the discretion of the ELIXIR Director.
To see the full list of ELIXIR focus groups then visit the ELIXIR Hub website. Below are the focus groups that ELIXIR-UK plays an active role in:
Biocuration
The Biocuration Focus Group is establised to provide the supporting mechanism driving this scientific theme in the 2019-2023 Scientific Programme, and widen the applicability of ELIXIR activities to data resource developers/operators across the Nodes and their constituent institutions.
UK involvement: Valerie Wood (Cardiff University) and Ruth Lovering (Cardiff University) are both leads in this Focus Group.
Biodiversity
This focus group aims to understand the capabilities and projects across the ELIXIR nodes, develop networks and work on a longer term biodiversity strategy.
UK involvement: Members from the University of Manchester, Earlham Institute and Heriot Watt are active in this Focus Group.
EOSC
The ELIXIR EOSC Focus Group will connect ELIXIR’s EOSC-related activities.
UK involvement: Susanna-Assunta Sansone (University of Oxford) is Co-Chair of this Focus Group.
FAIR Training
This Focus Group aims to implement FAIR principles in training (FAIR: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable).
UK involvement: Members from the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester are active in this Focus Group.
Health Data
The Health Data Focus Group aims to be the incubator of ideas relating to health data and is ELIXIR’s formal channel to organise this.
UK involvment: Tim Beck (University of Leiscter) is a Chair of this Focus Group.
Impact
This group aims to empower ELIXIR partners in evaluating and communicating their performance and impact, in support of the long-term sustainability of national Nodes.
UK involvement: Members from Earlham Institute, University of Manchester, University of Oxford, University of Bradford and Cambridge Univeristy are active in this Focus Group
Innovation & Industry
The ELIXIR Innovation and Industry Focus Group is an internal group for ELIXIR members to learn about engagement of external stakeholders (such as the private sector), initiatives in the ELIXIR Industry Programme and how to contribute, and exchange experiences on local industry and innovation programmes in the Nodes.
UK involvement: Members from Earlham Institute, University fo Bradford, University fo Liverpool, University fo Oxford and Newscastle University are active in the Focus Group.
Machine Learning
The ELIXIR Machine Learning Focus Group was initiated in October 2019, in order to capture the emerging need in Machine Learning expertise across the network.
Registries
This group allows ELIXIR registries to get together and discuss delivering FAIR services to the community.
UK involvement: Members from the University of Oxford and the University of Manchester are active in this Focus Group.
Research Data Alliance Activities
Research Data Alliance is an organisation carrying momentum worldwide. The purpose of this group is to make sure that the ELIXIR point of view is presented in the RDA community.
UK involvement: Susanna-Assunta Sansone (University fo Oxford) Allyson Lister (University of Oxford) are group leaders for this Focus Group and members from the University of Manchester and Earlham Institute are active in the Focus Group.
Systems Biology
This focus group looks at ELIXIR activities, engagement and infrastructure which supports systems biology.
UK involvement: Members from Newcastle University, Earlham Institute and University of Manchester are active in this Focus Group.