BBSRC Highlight – Machine Learning to Generate New Biological Knowledge
See below for some of the questions arising both from the webinar of 13th February and email/phone enquiries.
BBSRC Remit
Questions:
Remit questions regarding:
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Diagnostics
Toxicology (in rats)
Veterinary diagnostics/animal cancer
Behavioural datasets, linked with neuroscience
Disease identification (from images)
Health screening
Normal aging
Answer:
BBSRC will support applications related to plant and animal health, and normal human
biology, but not human pathology or disease research. Normal aging is within the BBSRC
remit. For more information on the BBSRC/MRC interface, see here:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/research/science-remit/interfaces/ If you have a remit questions, you
can submit a query to the BBSRC remit inbox: [email protected].
Scope of the Highlight
Questions:
How narrowly is "Machine learning" defined?
Is the emphasis towards development of databases and tools for everyone to add data to
these databases or only to collect large scale data that would be publicly available?
I'm trying to understand the balance between 'developing' new dataset vs. annotating
existing data. I understood that you thought that annotating existing data wasn't the
particular focus of this call. Could you elaborate on this a bit? Do you feel the call is focussed
on the *collection* of new data?
Do we need to have a specific Biological hypothesis that is answered, or it can be broader
focus: e.g. a software/tool/datasets to solve a common problem across a specific science
(e.g., agriculture images)
Would the development of new methods for the generation of data fit within the scope of the
call? Or alternatively, should applications focus on using existing methods to generate this
data?
Is development of new fundamental machine learning techniques appropriate (alongside
data generation)?
Can you explain a bit more about the former question- "is the emphasis towards
development of databases and tools for everyone to add data to these databases or only to
collect large scale data that would be publicly available?"
We would like to generate different datasets for multiple agricultural applications, is it ok or
has to be a specific problem?
Annotation of 3D image datasets and structural data sets to create well annotated sets which
will be made publicly available as training sets - would that be OK?
Is it better to use (annotate, integrate) data that is already available in public databases?
Answer:
The highlight is intended to focus on applications that prepare and assemble datasets that
will be used for machine learning algorithms. We recognise that preparing datasets for use in
machine learning is not a trivial component of research in this area and that projects to do
this need to be resourced adequately. The highlight is therefore intended to have a strong
focus on the assembly and preparation of the training dataset, which may include some
element of data gathering. BBSRC supports the use of public datasets, but applicants will be
able to judge which source of data are the most appropriate. Development of new tools,
algorithms and software to generate new biological knowledge are perform biological
research are within the BBSRC remit, so applications that contain an element of
development of tools are welcome within the highlight.
BBSRC does support applications using machine learning in biological research in
responsive mode, so if individuals or groups are considering applications, but they are not
ready yet to submit to 17RM2, or the application are not focussed strongly on assembly and
preparation of a training dataset, then applicants may still apply to subsequent responsive
rounds, without the highlight being active. For Responsive Mdoe application deadlines see
here: http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/funding/apply/deadlines/
Expression of Interest
Questions:
Is there a special EOI form ?
Can I ask if there is a form for EoI
Do we need to form a team in the EoI?
I'd like to ask if making an EoI application and in case it's rejected doesn't count as a full
grant application and doesn't preclude the lead applicant from applying to New Investigator
grant within the same period?
Should we include financial and project plan in the EOI?
Do we need a specific title for the project the in EOI which can later be identified in response
mode or just a PI name enough?
Answer:
There is no form for the EoI – a 2 page word or pdf will be fine. Send as an e-mail
attachment to [email protected] . The EoI will be used to assess 1) Fit to scope of
the highlight and 2) Fit to the BBSRC remit. Costs and will be useful to assess demand, but
are not essential. Similarly, it will be useful to see the names of co-applicants and
collaborators, but not essential. Applicants will of course be expected to submit applications
that match the project descriptions in their EoI but detailed costings and project titles may be
updated in the final applications. The EoI is not subject to peer review, and therefore will not
count as a full proposal for resubmission purposes
Assessment
Questions:
Will the HIGHLIGHT grants ranked against the other grants in the responsive mode call, or is
there a separate panel ranking for these?
Are the applications going to be assessed in a one or more than one committee?
Answers:
Applications submitted within the highlight will be assessed in the most appropriate committee, and
ranked alongside other responsive mode applications. The decision on which committee applications
are assessed by this is an office decision based on the subject of the research proposal, the expertise
attending each committee and the other proposals in the round.
There is no separate budget for the highlight, and applicants should be aware that their
proposals will need to be competitive within responsive mode to be awarded funding.
Costs and Collaborators
Questions:
Is there any issues with involving industry in the software development ?
Do all team members have to be within UK?
Just to clarify so we can cost also for time to annotate data?
Answers:
BBSRC supports science carried out by academic researchers in partnership with UK
industry or other user organisations, where an industrial partner makes a contribution to a
science base-led project funded by the Council. The Council does not provide funding to the
industrial partner. Industrial partners are welcome on all BBSRC research grant applications.
However, BBSRC has two formal mechanisms to specifically support collaborative research
with an industrial partner: IPA http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/innovation/collaboration/industrialpartnership-awards/) and LINK (http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/innovation/collaboration/standalone-link/).
FAQs for LINK and IPA are available here (http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/documents/ipa-link-faqspdf/)
Potential principal applicants who wish to collaborate with researchers at other institutions
and those from other countries are advised to contact the appropriate research Committee
prior to submitting an application. The extent and reasons for any collaboration must be
described fully in the case for support. In all instances of collaborative activity both
applicants and collaborators/project partners must be aware that any costs incurred, direct or
otherwise, by either collaborators or collaborators institutions (project partners) in connection
with collaborations, cannot be met by BBSRC.
If you have an eligibility question, you can submit a query to the BBSRC eligibility inbox:
[email protected]
Time and resource required to annotate the datasets are eligible for support, although all
costs must be fully justified.