A presentation by Dr. Rob Buckle, MRC UK on the process behind the development and delivery of the JPND Research Strategy

1. Developing a
Strategic Research Agenda
Dr Rob Buckle, Director of Science Programmes, MRC
JPI Conference Dublin, 8th March 2013

2. Overview
Summary of JPND
Delivering the SRA
• resource and timeline
• components
• process
The end product
Key considerations

3. Goals of JPND
To deliver a coherent programme of ND research for prevention, diagnosis, treatment
and patient care, that:
improves the effectiveness of current efforts
reflects the increasing need for ‘big science’, shared infrastructures, cutting
edge technologies and interdisciplinarity
acts as a magnet to attract new expertise and investment
provides a platform for international cooperation
encourages collaborative activity to promote innovative research and the
sharing of best practice

4. Scope of the initiative
Biological Medical
• Animal models • Early diagnosis
• Biobanks • Prevention
• Cohorts/registries • Clinical trials
• Disease pathology
Social
Work organised in
• Health care delivery
three domains • Home automation
• Health economics
• Ethics

5. Delivering the SRA
1. Mapping National and European programmes
2. Strategic prioritisation
3 thematic workshops (basic/clinical/healthcare)
stakeholder consultations
4th workshop to integrate outputs, incorporate stakeholder views
3. Consultation with the public (web-based)
4. Delivery of the SRA, taking into account
outputs from scientific workshops
consultation with stakeholder groups
discussion at MB (to incorporate funder, political & policy considerations)

6. Resource
EC support through JUMPAHEAD Coordination Action
SRA Work Package
Scoping, strategic prioritisation and delivery of the SRA
MRC lead, supported by MIUR, contribution from other WPs
In kind contribution from other JPND members
Resource provided through JUMPAHEAD
• 2x programme manager, 1x admin support post
• SRA workshop costs
• contribution for website / database management

7. Timeline
15 month timeline
Month 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
T2.1 Mapping *
T2.2 Scientific Priorities *
T2.3 Delivering the SRA *

8. Mapping Exercise
Aim of exercise
To provide context for developing the SRA
To provide a community resource
To provide an updatable platform for other funders
Data collection – 3 tiers
JPND member organisations
Other national / regional funders
Detail from PIs on bio-resources
Timeline
Feb to May 2011 - data entry from funders
June 2011 - analysis for prioritisation workshop
Nov 2011 - publication on JPND website

9. Workshops
Aim
to identify research opportunities, gaps, barriers to progress
to identify necessary infrastructures and technologies
to identify priority research areas (near and longer term)
to identify research requiring a cross‐border approach
to provide reports as a basis for stakeholder discussion
Timeline (2011)
March – 3 thematic workshops
April – preliminary reports for focussed stakeholder discussion
May – workshop reports published
June – (4th) prioritisation workshop
July – final workshop report published

10. Selection of experts
Inputs
list of expertise provided by JPND members
SAB knowledge of opinion leaders in the field
Selection according to three dimensions
i) research excellence (according to the 3 workshop themes)
ii) scientific coverage (by disease and discipline)
iii) geographic coverage
Stakeholders
representativeness an issue
consult via a parallel process
involvement in the final, prioritisation workshop

11. Meeting structure & outputs
Participants
35-40 research experts
3 SAB member organising committee
JPND programme managers & other WP leads
Format
structured discussion sessions
3 or 4 break-out groups, topics in two dimensions
choreography of groups to facilitate discussion and challenge
feedback according to a structured template
topic theme leaders + SAB members = writing group

12. What about stakeholders?
Key stakeholder groups for JPND
Patients and Carers
Research charities and other funders
Industry
Healthcare professionals
Policy makers
Engagement
Workshops
Questionnaires to fill gaps
Public consultation (web-based)

13. JPND Research Strategy
Launched in Brussels February 2012
Provides a holistic ‘roadmap’ for future EU-wide activity
and investment
Represents a common vision agreed by JPND
Members
Sets out clear scientific priorities & enabling activities
Addresses the full spectrum of research and approaches
that are required to achieve impact

14. Promotion & dissemination
www.neurodegenerationresearch.eu
www.jpnd.eu
Full Research Strategy
Executive Summary in 13 Languages
Reports summarising responses received from consultations

15. Concluding remarks
Conceptual framework
Time and resource
Leadership and project management
Transparency
Credibility
Inclusivity
Validation
Promotion