SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16 November 2008 -Letter 16

Happy Birthday SIB Plant Systems Biology Systems Thinking

At the tenth anniversary of Fathoming the plants na- Systemsbiology and Systems- SIB, director Ron Appel sang ture in models and reality is theory are surprisingly far an aria from Franz Lehar. 03 Chris Kuhlemeier’s aim. 04 apart from each other. 06

Union of Wills instead of Partnership of Convenience

Thomas Müller, Head of Communications, SystemsX.ch

For me, it was a lesson in research policy. Six years ago, all began with an ETH Life Sciences Institute in Basel supported by Basel politicians and «federal Bern», today SystemsX.ch is Switzerland's largest research initiative. SystemsX.ch is a construct typical of the Swiss Confede- ration. Cultures and interests of two ETH, six cantonal uni- versities and three research In a poster session 32 project were presented. Photo Thomas Müller institutions must be brought together – a difficult task since conflicts of objectives, The All-SystemsX.ch-Day in Basel was which arise from competition for research subventions and a success. New project ideas were pre- the obligation to cooperate being side-by-side, must be sented and a poster price was awarded. sorted out by the joint stee- ring bodies. Thomas Müller were lively, the meeting even took on some- However, for the political Basel. The second All-SystemsX.ch-Day was thing like a family atmosphere. establishment and the public a premiere at the same time. It took place This time, a happily large number of 70 at large, this does not matter. within the framework of the «Life Sciences scientists from the pharmaceutical indus- They are only interested in Week» in Basel and attracted 350 visitors in- try, biotechnology, and IT-companies found high-level scientific output. terested by Systems Biology and SystemsX.ch their way to SystemsX.ch. Perhaps a synergy This can only be achieved if in the Montreal Hall of the Congress Centre effect with the technology fair «Life Sciences» SystemsX.ch, like Switzer- in Basel. The veteran of drosophila research, which welcomed the impressive number of land, understands itself as a Walter Gehring, of University of Basel’s Bio- 2600 visitors. Dominique Michel and Richard confederation of wills and centre also made a brief appearance; some Quaderer from Lonza in Visp are interested not as a mere partnership of his students are involved in SystemsX.ch. in ways to produce small molecules, today of convenience to keep the The exchanges between the participants continued on page 2 subsidy pot. 2 November 2008 SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16

continuation from page 1 The second call for proposals for synthesized through organic chemical methods, by a (sys- research projects targets technology, temic) biological process. Pasquale Di Cesare of IBM and biomedicine. Switzerland is impressed by the interdisciplinarity of Sys- tems Biology in Switzerland. Zurich. SystemsX.ch, the Swiss initiative He came to get acquainted in Systems Biology, has launched its second with the research conducted call for proposals for large research projects. by potential clients of IBM. The research volume will exceed 50 million And Dieter Scholer, member francs. SystemsX.ch will support between of the University of Basel five and seven Research, Technology and Council with an intimate Development Projects (RTD) with a contri- knowledge of the life sci- bution of up to 6 million francs over four ences scene in Basel, is de- years. lighted by the «overwhelm- Altogether, SystemsX.ch has up to 28 mil- ing enthusiasm» with which lion francs at its disposal. The institutions of the SystemsX.ch scientists scientists supported are required to contrib- get down to work. Hans-Peter ute the same amount, bringing the total re- Wessels, director of the busi- search volume to between 50 and 60 million ness promotion department francs. This round of research promotion fo- of Basel-City and Basel-Land cuses on the development of future-oriented and future state secretary of technology for Systems Biology and on proj- the Basel-City canton, praises ects at the interface of biomedical research. SystemsX.ch as a model ini- The deadline for submitting proposals is tiative to advance biology. January 15, 2009. SystemsX.ch’s network ap- proach to address biological Risks wanted problems is exemplary, he To foster the development of Systems Bi- says. ology in Switzerland, SystemsX.ch attaches a great importance to supporting young And the winner is… researchers willing to take risks. Thus, SystemsX.ch finances about a dozen doctoral theses of young researchers every year. The interdisciplinary doctorates (IPhD) are super- vised by two professors from two different disciplines. In addition, SystemsX.ch finances about 10 high-risk projects (interdisciplinary Big medically focussed projects have better chances. pilot projects, IPP) under the condition, here Photo Christian Flierl too, that two research groups from two dif- ferent disciplines work together. In contrast hds are evaluated by an international Review to the doctoral thesis, risks may be taken Panel of the Swiss Research Fund, whereas while this is usually not encouraged by the IPPs are subject to approval by the SystemsX. research promotion agencies. RTDs and IP- ch’s Scientific Executive Board. thm

Rajesh Ramaswamy from India won the main poster award. Photo thm An IT-Manager for SystemsX.ch

In the afternoon, a series Zurich. SystemsX.ch is getting a centrally resources, he will have access to the Center of researchers presented controlled IT structure. The objective of for Information Sciences and Databases in new project ideas and Peter the Systems Biology IT Project, abbreviated the Department of Systems Biology and Engi- Meier-Abt, vice-rector of the SyBIT, is to provide the data and storage neering of the ETH Zurich in Basel and to the University of Basel, handed hungry Research, Technology and Develop- services of Vital-IT, the informatics initiative over the prize for the best ment Projects with adequate hardware and in the Life Sciences of West-Switzerland. poster to the PhD student software support. This exciting position requires a taste for Rajesh Ramaswamy (ETH Zu- For this challenging position, SystemsX.ch interdisciplinarity, interpersonal communi- rich) for his illustration of is looking for a IT and special- cation, different university cultures as well protein recycling in the cell ist to build a coherent structure adapted to as some IT-experience. thm membrane. the researchers' needs. Among the existing SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16 November 2008 3

Founded by pioneers, born in misery, today world class. Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics celebrated its 10th anniversary with a congress and a banquet.

Ron Appel, director of SIB, and Laure Verbregue sing a duet from Franz Lehár’s operetta «The Merry Widow» at the banquet. Photo Fred Merz/SIB

Thomas Müller The birthday ceremony, which took around on computers», recalls Bairoch. Bern. The evening was already ad- place on the 24 September at the Kul- Today, without computer scientists, vanced as Ron Appel, director of the tur-Casino in Bern, had begun in due rien ne va plus. They channel the data Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, went form with a scientific congress featur- streams produced by the other biolo- back up on the stage, accompanied this ing Werner Arber, Nobel laureate. In gists and assist them in extracting new time by Laure Verbregue. And then the the evening, at the banquet, Mauro insights in biology from them. This is surprise! Director Appel morphed into Dell’Ambroglio, state secretary for one of the reasons, and not the least, a tenor incarnating Count Danilo Da- education, and research, recalled and why the SIB is a partner of SystemsX.ch, nilowitsch and sang the duet «Lippen praised the institute’s path full of ob- the Swiss initiative in Systems Biology. schweigen, ‹s’flüstern die Geigen» (from stacles to world class. In addition, SIB researchers participate Franz Lehár’s «The Merry Widow») with in many SystemsX.ch projects. the soprano Laure Verbregue in the Without informatics, rien ne va plus role of Hanna Glawari. The story begins in the mid 1980s as A Service Network The SIB Jazz band which, a few min- total belief in the explaining capacity Like SystemsX.ch, the SIB constitutes utes before, had come out brilliantly of genes still prevailed. But, in Geneva, a network of research groups. Some are by playing amino acid sequences trans- a small conspirator group of young re- implanted directly on the site of the posed in melodies and harmonies, searchers would not give up their con- SIB, but most are affiliated in another proved to be equally at ease in the op- viction that the real actors of lives were Swiss university or research institution. eretta genre. the proteins, and not the genes which In this way, the institute counts about With large volume and impeccable in- in fact would contain only the script 300 researchers. Its task is to provide tonation, tenor Appel and soprano Ver- and by no means everything of cru- services and support to the national bregue brought the audience to a boil- cial importance. The members of this and international research community ing point. The guests, more than 350, rebel group included amongst others in the natural sciences through data- gave them a rousing standing ovation Ron Appel and the biochemist Amos bases, software applications, web serv- and shouted for an encore, and since Bairoch who now conducts the biggest ers, and coordination and service cen- it had been so beautiful, they sang the group at the SIB. «At that time, we were tres as well as education and research duet once more. considered as failures who were fooling in the field of bioinformatics. 4 November 2008 SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16

The plant, the unknown. To fathom its secret, that is the objective of the SystemsX.ch project «Plant Growth in a Changing Environment».

Thomas Müller Bern. A plant is very different from us. It keeps growing until it dies. It cannot run away, and for this reason, it has de- veloped defense mechanisms complete- ly different from those of mobile multi- cellular organisms. The plants are the most successful products of evolution, at least in terms of mass, representing 99% of the biosphere. They are frugal, they need nothing, but light, air, water and a few minerals. And last, but not least, we human beings live from the plants and breathe the oxygen they produce.

«The genes cannot ignore physics.»

Plants are among the «creatures» men- tioned in the Swiss Constitution which confers them a certain dignity. How do they function in fact? How do they grow and develop in an ever-changing environment? How does nature, this engineer, manage to create a cell wall which is, at the same time, scaffold, support, protection envelope, filter, pressure container and many more oth- er things, all this growing at the same time? In comparison, our «functional tissue» is a simplistic affair.

Modellers refute biologists These are the questions among others addressed by 18 research groups in the whole of Switzerland within the frame- work of the SystemsX.ch project «Plant Growth in a Changing Environment». «We intend to study the nature of the plant at many systemic levels», explains the director of the project, Cris Kuhle- meier, professor at the University of Bern and director of the Institute of Phy- tobiology affiliated at this university. In this project, computer simulation Cris Kuhlemeier presents his experiment subject, the thale cress. Photo Thomas Müller will play a central role. Kuhlemeier ex- plains his expectations with the follow- tion attempts, so dear to the «classical» tween computer simulations and prac- ing example: how does a plant trigger biologists, were found to be insufficient. tical experiments». The project «Plant the construction of a leaf? Under the Kuhlemeier explains his strategy: «We Growth» will involve other systemic lev- cold light of mathematical formulas expect to make other discoveries also els such as the plant cell and the plant generated by modellers, the explana- in other fields through the interplay be- as a whole in its environment. SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16 November 2008 5

Delicate Force measure- wall and determines the angel at which ments on Shoots and Stems the shoots and the stems will grow up- wards to the sky. One thing is certain: Zurich. Femtotools, that is the name it is not written in the genes that many of the company which provides as- plants arrange their leaves at an angle sistance in measuring the forces in- of 137,5 degrees». volved in cell growth or cell division. Mechanics and statics will thus play Counting four employees, the com- an important role in «Plant Growth». pany is a spin-off of ETH professor «The genes cannot ignore physics» re- Bradley Nelson. that specializes in marks Kuhlemeier with a smile. Thus, the development of sensors capable the forces involved in the construction of measuring tiny forces. They can of the plant are to be measured, and measure forces as small as those ex- this on the living subject for the fi rst erted by a grain of dust of one tenth time. For this task, the project will of a milligram on a piece of paper. collaborate with the fi rm Femto-Tools As sensors, it uses a fl exible piece of which constructs the necessary sensors silicon embedded directly in a chip. Computer simulation of a meristem, the highest (s. box: «Delicate Force Measurements With this technology, the company point of a shoot. Photo Richard Smith on Shoots and Stems»). hopes to fi ll the «measurement gap» between the large scanning micro- To reduce the number of variables, «We will try to link scopes and the usual meters. «With «Plant Growth» limits itself to the biolo- our plant models to the our participation in «Plant Growth», gists’ preferred plant, the thale cress, we want to demonstrate that our (arabidopsis thaliana) which has a short climate models» sensors can be used not only in en- generation cycle and a small genome gineering, but also in biology», with composed of only fi ve chromosomes. The global aspects will be addressed these words, the company director, The objective, is it to develop a virtual in a second phase. Kuhlemeier’s dream Felix Beyeler, describes the reason plant, an «iPlant» so to say? «That’s the is to give the plant the place they de- for the company’s participation to latest hype, but it does not mean very serve in the climate discussion. «Of- «Plant Growth». thm much», he says. However this name can- ten, plants play only a minor role in not be so wrong as it is the name of an this discussion whereas they are much American research project pursuing more important than the animals in similar goals. the composition of the atmosphere» ex- plains Kuhlemeier, somewhat worked From architecture to construction up. Kuhlemeier is keen to know how a Naturally, it is about extrapolating plant organ, whether a leaf or a fl ower, from one plant-model to the whole is actually constructed. Just as the ar- biosphere. Nevertheless, a good model chitect’s plan does not say very much could give us a good idea of what is go- about how masons, carpenters, joiners, ing on at the global level. «That’s why painters, plasterers and plumbers will we will try to link our plant models to construct a house, so the genetic con- the climate models of the atmosphere struction plant does not allow to un- physicists». At the moment, their mod- derstand how the plant is constructed. els take only the atmosphere and the A silicon force sensor with pincers to grab «Thus, we want to know how a plant sets oceans into account. «Plant Growth» in- objects of a size between 0.001 and 0.1 mm. scaffolds for itself, generates the cell tends to inject a bit of life into them. Photo Femtotools

«Plant growth in a Changing environment» at a glance

Principal investigaor: Prof. Cris Kuhlemeier, University of Bern Participating institutions: University of Bern, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, University of Basel, University of Fribourg, University of Genf, EPF Lausanne, University of Neuchâtel, University of Lausanne, Swiss Institut of Bioinformtics Industriy partners: Femtotools GmbH, Zurich. Number of research groups: 18 ressearcher / administrators: 74 / 1 Ratio biologists - non-biologists = 3:1 Total budget (2008-2011): 14, 778 342 Mio. Fr. from SystemsX.ch: 5, 87 Mio. Fr. 6 November 2008 SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16

When the part becomes the environment and the whole a system. Systems Biology in the view of a systems theoretician.

Stéphane Vézina* Heidelberg. «Systems biology» is a worldwide academic hype. A bit in- triguing. The word «system» has be- come banal, you can hardly buy any- thing but systems: bed, office, shelf, energy, and even coffin systems. But what is a system? The philosopher and theologian Augustinus of Hippo (354 - 430) was probably in the same situation as he wrote this about a similarly puzzling triviality: «What is time? If nobody asks me, I know it. But I should explain it to you, I do not know». Taken in general, the system concept is extremely rich and complex. The theory which concerns itself with sys- tems goes back to the 1920’s. Systems theory originated through cybernet- ics and information theory (Shannon, Weaver) and was further developed in systemic sociological theories such as Niklas Luhmann’s theory. Other forms are e. g. the «chaos theory», the «auto- poeisis theory» of the biologists Hum- berto Maturana and Francisco Varela or the theory of complex systems, as developed in the 1990’s at the Santa In a control center of a traffic management system, automobiles are not part of the system, but Fé Institute (Stuart Kauffman). its environment. Photo Siemens

Less than the sum of its parts have qualities which the whole does must be in the first note, otherwise it But strangely enough, Systems Bi- not have: Hydrogen is extremely in- falls apart. ology remains largely untouched by flammable, and oxygen fuels fire, but Exploring such intriguing phenom- such developments. Systems theo- fire goes out when you pour water on ena is the objective of the General ries are mentioned in books about it. Thus the whole is also less than the Systems Theory. In a first step, it has Systems Biology, it is true, but they sum of its parts. replaced the traditional distinction hardly play a role. For example, a new Moreover, the parts do not exist iso- whole/parts by the distinction system/ introduction states: «The core funda- lated to be integrated unchanged in a environment. The advantages of such mental concepts of Systems Biology whole. A melody is composed of indi- a reformulation spring to mind, any … remain pretty much the same as in vidual notes. However it can be played system - a biological too - develops in the time of Aristotle.» («Systems Biolo- on a recorder or on a double bass, or an environment and must sustain it- gy: Principles, Methods and Concepts» transposed it into any key, you will rec- self in it. The focus has now moved to (ed. Konopka, 2006, S. 1)! It relies on a ognize it. You hear only the relation the dynamic processes involved in sys- more or less intuitive comprehension between the notes. Time also plays a tem development. of the concept «system», for example role. The notes are played one after the with the old saying: «The whole is other, but if you should be able to rec- Part becomes environment more than the sum of its parts». ognize the melody, the notes already As the first surprising consequence But this is only one aspect among played and the notes not yet played of this reformulation, that which is in- many other aspects. Water is composed must be there somehow even though, tuitively considered part of the system of hydrogen and oxygen. The whole, at the moment, another note is being is now banished into its environment. water, has qualities which the parts - played. They are there and not there So one would think society is a system hydrogen and oxygen, both gases - do at the same time. In addition, any mu- composed of human beings. Wrong, not have. On the other hand, the parts sician knows that the whole melody says sociologist and systems thinker SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16 November 2008 7

Niklas Luhman, for the immediately obvious die away, but remain audible! Thus, the sys- News reason that human beings as biological enti- tem can achieve a certain stability only if its ties do not constitute a social system. As all- elements do not have any duration and are ERC-Grants to encompassing social system, society develops unstable; on the other hand, it must develop SysX.ch Members and sustains itself through the communica- structures which can link certain emerging Brussels. Three members tions between human beings who are part of and passing elements-events over time dis- of the SystemsX.ch’s Scien- the environment of society, he says. tances. In a communication, in a conversa- tific Executive Board are Then, the system is not composed of parts tion, this is achieved by memory that pre- among the beneficiaries of any more, but rather it develops out of events serves certain spoken words and brings them the first phase of the Ad- occurring when parts out of its environment into a meaningful statement. vanced Grants by the Eu- come into relation with one another, that Through the continuous instantaneous ropean Research Council: means in the social system when human be- disintegration of its elements, the system Ruedi Aebersold, ETH Zur- ings come into relation with one another gains a large degree a freedom and ability to ich, Konrad Basler, Zurich and produce communications. The system adjust to its environment. It can allow events University, Denis Duboule, to happen in a limitless number, under the EPF Lausanne. The Swiss Society does not consist of condition that they die away immediately. researchers have obtained humans but of communication Under these innumerable possibilities, it se- eight of the 78 grants. thm lects the events relevant and important for between humans. its existence and transposes them into struc- tures. A Genome for $5000 uses such events to construct itself in the Mountain View. 5000$, that form of structures, processes, etc.. In society, Death is a trick of life is the amount which the sub-systems such as the legal system, the eco- The organism is the prototype of the sys- Californian company Com- nomic system, the political system, develop tem. It too constructs itself out of events, bio- plete Genomics will charge and sustain themselves out of communica- chemical reactions between substances in its next year for commercial tions in this manner. environment which occur and immediately sequencing of a human ge- As events, the elements of the system are end, but trigger other reactions to ensure nome. In 2009, the company without duration and are thus fundamentally that the chain of reactions-events is not in- expects to sequence about unstable. For example, in a communication, terrupted. It develops structures and process- 1000 genomes, in 2010 some in a conversation, each word does not have es which prevail over the trend to immediate 20000, and in the next five any duration, hardly pronounced, it must dissolution and allow a selection under the years in cooperation with leave its place for the next word. It is one of innumerable events, thus giving the system partners, one million. The many events in a process which emerge and stability. It can allow innumerable events, im- Institute of Systems Biology disappear in the same moment. But the ele- mediately dying away, to happen and can in in Seattle (ISB) is one of the ments must disappear, otherwise the system, this way develop very complex forms of life. partners. thm already with a few elements, would attain an Death is a trick of life to create more life. incontrollable complexity leading to chaos. What a commotion would arise if the words * Stéphane Vézina has studied philosophy and sociology Systems Biologist will and sentences in a conversation would not and works as scientific translator. head BBSRC London. Douglas Kell, di- rector of the Manchester Centre of Systems Biology Markus Stoffel discovers Diabetes will be the new CEO of the Biotechnology and Biologi- Drug Target. Roche mulls using it. cal Sciences Research Coun- cil (BBSRC) in UK. thm Zurich/Basel. The collabo- identified the target. At the animal experiments for the ration between Roche and moment, the ETH Zurich target only one year after the Competence Center for is filing the patent applica- its identification. If the fea- With Systems Systems Physiology and tions, and for this reason, sibility study is completed Biology against Metabolic Diseases has pro- the «identity» of the target successfully, the first clinical Infectious Diseases duced the first drug target may not be disclosed. studies could follow in 2011 Bethesda. In the United- candidate. The target is a Roche might license the already. States, the National Insti- membrane protein of insu- patent, declares Cristiano «That’s lightning-fast for tutes of Health are betting lin-producing beta-cells in Migliorini, Roche’s project testing a new concept», re- on Systems Biology to com- the pancreas which die in coordinator. The pharmaceu- joices René Imhof, director bat infectious diseases. Four cases of diabetes Type 2. tical firm has already identi- of Roche Research in Basel research institutes will re- This has been confirmed fied the protein as a target and a pemanent guest of ceive up to $ 68.7 million by Markus Stoffel from the for another disease. That’s SystemsX.ch’s Scientific Ex- over five the next years. Molecular Systems Biology why it was possible to con- ecutive Board. thm SARS, tuberculosis and in- Institute of ETH Zurich who duct the pharmacological fluenza are targeted. thm 8 November 2008 SystemsX.ch Newsletter #16

Natalia Emery Trindade joins the The Glossary of SystemsX.ch Management Team SystemsX.ch Research, Technology and De- speaks English, German, Ruedi Widmer Grafik the velopment Project (RTD project): Spanish and Italian flu- «corporate identity» of Sys- SystemsX.ch’s flagship project, multi- ently. Furthermore she will temsX.ch, the website, the year duration, budgets of 1.4 to 6 mio. receive her certificate of newsletter (X-Letter) and the CHF per year. studies in Art and Electron- email news service (X-Flash). Interdisciplinary Pilot Project (IPP): ic Media from the Zurich He will have edited 16 News- Research involving risks. One-year University of the Arts next letters and wrote many of duration. About 120'000 per year. January. She is also com- the articles. In December Interdisciplinary Doctorate (IPhD): pleting a journalism and 2007, a media conference Duration of 3 to 4 years. news writing course at the made SystemsX.ch known Board of Directors (BoD): Natalia Emery joins SystemsX.ch . London School of Journal- to a broader public. SystemsX.ch's highest steering body ism via a correspondence From January 1, 2009, composed of the presidents, rectors Zurich. Natalia Emery Trin- course. A part of her time Thomas Müller will head and directors of all participating dade joins the SystemsX.ch will be devoted to general the science section of the institutions. Management Office team as administrative tasks. Nata- Neue Zürcher Zeitung. thm Scientific Executive Board (SEB): the new communications lia Emery Trindade is a Ger- Operative committee composed of staff member. She will start man and Brazilian citizen scientists from the participating on December 1, 2008, will and lives in Zurich institutions. implement the existing Thomas Müller, head communications concept, of communications at and will produce the forth- SystemsX.ch and SystemsX coming SystemsX.ch X-Let- is leaving SystemsX.ch at the ters and X-Flashes. Natalia end of the year. Müller elab- Emery holds a Bachelor’s orated the communications degree in Portuguese and concept of SystemsX.ch, and French. On top of that she developed together with Thomas Müller leaves for NZZ.

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Yeast Biologists seek for Common Thomas Müller (thm) SystemsX.ch Communications Language for Common Problems Tel: +41 61 683 76 77 Mobile: +41 79 614 06 77 Zurich. The systems bi- ellers, yeast biologists, have ogy of the ETH Zurich have [email protected] ologists who seek to model joined their efforts to de- taken part in this initiative. – metabolic activities or even velop a common, clear and «No big science, but a nec- Andrea Kaufmann (AK) whole cells study often the coherent nomenclature of essary organizational step Assistant to Managing Director same problems, but they use reactions and reaction part- which the yeast specialists SystemsX.ch different software and ter- ners. have first taken, indicat- Tel: +41 44 632 47 75 minolog ies in t heir resea rch, From SystemsX.ch, Uwe ing the direction to follow». [email protected] rendering any collaboration Sauer and Matthias Hei- thm – difficult if not impossible. nemann of the Institute Franziska Biellmann (FB) That’s why a group of mod- of Molecular Systems Biol- Nat Biot. 2008 Oct;26(10):1155-60. Scientific Staff SystemsX.ch Tel: +41 44 632 74 23 [email protected] Conferences and Events Daniel Vonder Mühll (VDM) Nov 15 - 18, 2008 4th EMBO Conference Heidelberg Managing Director Nov 27, 2008 Swisscore: Swiss Science Briefing on SystemsX.ch Brüssel SystemsX.ch Dec 04, 2008 Partnering Event on Bioinformatics and Genf Tel: +41 44 632 78 88 Dec 7-10, 2008 Drug Discovery Design Methods & Applications Workshop Hyderabad [email protected] March 23 - 25, 2009 BioSysBio Cambridge, UK March 25, 2009 SystemsX.ch Industry Day Basel SystemsX.ch April 16 - 19, 2009 The 3rd International Biocuration Conference Berlin Clausiusstr. 45 Aug 09 - 12, 2009 FOSBE 2009 Denver, USA CH-8092 Zurich Aug 30-Sep 4, 2009 ICSB 2009 Stanford, USA Dec 11-12, 2009 Latest Advances in Drug Discovery Modelling & Informatics Hyderabad Web: www.SystemsX.ch