1. Perennial Success with VIVO
Sustained engagement with stakeholders
and the community
Paul Albert
paa2013@med.cornell.edu
Weill Cornell Medical College

2. Annual or Perennial?

3. Annuals
Easy to grow, but their lifecycle is just
one growing season.

4. Perennials
Take longer to fruit and
harder to grow...
...but have longer roots
and live longer

5. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

6. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

7. What is important?
2. Newbern JM, Li X, Shoemaker SE, Zhou J, Zhong J, Wu Y, Bonder D, Hollenback S, Coppola G,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Geschwind DH, Landreth GE, Snider WD (2011) Specific functions for ERK/MAPK signaling during PNS
development. Neuron 69:91-105.
NAME POSITION TITLE BIRTHDATE (Mo., Day, Yr.) 3. Newbern J, Zhong J, Wickramasinghe S, Li X, Wu Y, Samuels I, Cherosky N, Karlo J, O'Loughlin B,
Jian Zhong Assistant Professor of 03/07/1964 Wikenheiser J, Gargesha M, Doughman Y, Charron J, Ginty DD, Watanabe M, Saitta S, Snider WD,
Neuroscience
Landreth G (2008) Mouse and human phenotypes indicate a critical conserved role for the ERK2 signaling
EDUCATION (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial education and include postdoctoral training.) pathway in neural crest development. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:17115-20.
4. Zhong J, Li X, McNamee C, Chen A, Baccarini M, Snider WD (2007) Raf kinase signaling functions in
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE YEAR FIELD OF STUDY sensory neuron differentiation and axon growth in vivo. Nat Neurosci 10:598-607.
CONFERRED
(Selected as a Featured Article by “Signaling Gateway” http://www.signaling-gateway.org/update/updates/-
Ruhr University Bochum, Germany Dipl.-Chem. 1992 Neurochemistry 200704/su-0704-2.html)
Ruhr University Bochum, Germany Ph.D. 1997 Neurochemistry
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena Postdoc 1998-2001 Biology 5. Zhong J, Pevny L, Snider WD (2006) "Runx"ing towards sensory differentiation. Neuron 49(3), 325-7.
UNC Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, postdoc 2001-2008 Neuroscience
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 6. Markus A, Zhong J, Snider WD (2002) Raf and Akt mediate distinct aspects of sensory axon growth.
Neuron 35:65-76.
RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Concluding with current position, list, in chronological order, previous employment, Research Support
experience, and honors. List, in chronological order, the titles and COMPLETE references to all publications during the past five years and to
representative earlier publications pertinent to this application. DO NOT EXCEED TWO PAGES. 2008- Institutional startup funds (Role: PI)
Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute
Positions and Employment 2010-2013 Three year research grant 2010-08-61 (Role: PI)
Whitehall Foundation
1993-1997 Research Assistant, Department of Molecular Neurobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, RAF signaling in sensory-motor circuit formation
Germany. 2011-2013 Two years scholarship for Dr. Kevin O’Donovan (Role: Mentor)
1997-1998 Research Associate, Department of Molecular Neurobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Goldsmith Foundation
Germany. 2012-2017 R01EY022409 (Role: PI)
1998-2001 Postdoctoral fellow, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. NIH
B-RAF dives regenerative axon growth in the optic nerve in vivo
2001-2008 Research Scientist, Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, NC.
Present Assistant Professor (tenure track), Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill
Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, and Director of Molecular Regeneration
and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY.
Ad hoc Reviewer
Nature Neuroscience
Neuron
Journal of Neuroscience
European Journal of Neuroscience
Honors
1987-1994 Max-Buchner Scholarship, Germany.
2003 Abcam travel award.
2007 Prize for the best “Short Talk”, Neurotrophic Factors, Gordon Research Conference. RI
Selected Peer-reviewed Publications
1. O’Donovan K, Ma K, Guo H, Sun F, Pritchard CA, Marais R, Charron J, He Z, Zhong J. B-RAF kinase
signaling drives axon growth of both embryonic and adult neurons in the PNS and CNS (under revision)

8. What is important?
2. Newbern JM, Li X, Shoemaker SE, Zhou J, Zhong J, Wu Y, Bonder D, Hollenback S, Coppola G,
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Geschwind DH, Landreth GE, Snider WD (2011) Specific functions for ERK/MAPK signaling during PNS
development. Neuron 69:91-105.
NAME POSITION TITLE BIRTHDATE (Mo., Day, Yr.) 3. Newbern J, Zhong J, Wickramasinghe S, Li X, Wu Y, Samuels I, Cherosky N, Karlo J, O'Loughlin B,
Jian Zhong Assistant Professor of 03/07/1964 Wikenheiser J, Gargesha M, Doughman Y, Charron J, Ginty DD, Watanabe M, Saitta S, Snider WD,
Publications
Neuroscience
Landreth G (2008) Mouse and human phenotypes indicate a critical conserved role for the ERK2 signaling
EDUCATION (Begin with baccalaureate or other initial education and include postdoctoral training.) pathway in neural crest development. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:17115-20.
4. Zhong J, Li X, McNamee C, Chen A, Baccarini M, Snider WD (2007) Raf kinase signaling functions in
INSTITUTION AND LOCATION DEGREE YEAR FIELD OF STUDY sensory neuron differentiation and axon growth in vivo. Nat Neurosci 10:598-607.
Education
CONFERRED
(Selected as a Featured Article by “Signaling Gateway” http://www.signaling-gateway.org/update/updates/-
Ruhr University Bochum, Germany Dipl.-Chem. 1992 Neurochemistry 200704/su-0704-2.html)
Ruhr University Bochum, Germany Ph.D. 1997 Neurochemistry
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena Postdoc 1998-2001 Biology 5. Zhong J, Pevny L, Snider WD (2006) "Runx"ing towards sensory differentiation. Neuron 49(3), 325-7.
UNC Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, postdoc 2001-2008 Neuroscience
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 6. Markus A, Zhong J, Snider WD (2002) Raf and Akt mediate distinct aspects of sensory axon growth.
Neuron 35:65-76.
RESEARCH AND PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Concluding with current position, list, in chronological order, previous employment, Research Support
experience, and honors. List, in chronological order, the titles and COMPLETE references to all publications during the past five years and to
representative earlier publications pertinent to this application. DO NOT EXCEED TWO PAGES. 2008- Institutional startup funds (Role: PI)
Burke-Cornell Medical Research Institute
Positions and Employment 2010-2013 Three year research grant 2010-08-61 (Role: PI)
Grants
Whitehall Foundation
1993-1997 Research Assistant, Department of Molecular Neurobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, RAF signaling in sensory-motor circuit formation
Germany. 2011-2013 Two years scholarship for Dr. Kevin O’Donovan (Role: Mentor)
Appointments/positions
1997-1998 Research Associate, Department of Molecular Neurobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Goldsmith Foundation
Germany. 2012-2017 R01EY022409 (Role: PI)
1998-2001 Postdoctoral fellow, Division of Biology, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA. NIH
B-RAF dives regenerative axon growth in the optic nerve in vivo
2001-2008 Research Scientist, Neuroscience Center, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina,
Chapel Hill, NC.
Present Assistant Professor (tenure track), Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Weill
Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, and Director of Molecular Regeneration
and Neuroimaging Laboratory, Burke Medical Research Institute, White Plains, NY.
Ad hoc Reviewer
Nature Neuroscience
Neuron
Journal of Neuroscience
Service/committees
European Journal of Neuroscience
Honors/awards
Honors
1987-1994 Max-Buchner Scholarship, Germany.
2003 Abcam travel award.
2007 Prize for the best “Short Talk”, Neurotrophic Factors, Gordon Research Conference. RI
Selected Peer-reviewed Publications
1. O’Donovan K, Ma K, Guo H, Sun F, Pritchard CA, Marais R, Charron J, He Z, Zhong J. B-RAF kinase
signaling drives axon growth of both embryonic and adult neurons in the PNS and CNS (under revision)

9. Completely objective list of
most important data sources
1. Appointments and positions
2. Journal articles
3. Educational history
4. Headshot
5. Email
6. Courses
7. Grants and agreements
8. Honorable mention: professional service, honors and awards,
postal address, geographic location, bio, events, patents,
research expertise, board certifications, other publications

11. Sizing up a new data source
e red ngest
t ativ structu
van thorit ell- ct i
r ele au w D ire
Courses Yes
Grants Yes
Faculty Affairs Yes
Human Resources No
Physicians Profile Partially

12. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

13. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
Manual entry: Day #1
6. Cultivate champions.

14. Manual entry: Day #500

15. Manual entry is not
the answer
Reason #1. If you're lucky, researchers will
enter their metadata... but often they will
do so incorrectly.

16. Manual entry is not
the answer
Reason #2. Most researchers will not enter
any data. At all.

17. Most recent publication: 2006

18. Here is the latest: one month ago.

19. Manual entry is not
the answer
Reason #3. It costs money, year after year.

20. This is not you.

21. Manual entry is not
the answer
Reason #4. No mechanism for removing
expired content.

22. Automated ingested
is way worth it
All the extra work required to set up
workflows for ingesting data from an
authoritative source is definitely worth the
trouble.

23. Never mind xkcd’s mockery.
You will save time in the long run.

24. and forg et it
S et it
VIVO

25. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained
by third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

26. Do we really need
authoritative data, Sarge?

27. Missing title: Provost for
Medical Affairs

29. Once you look for it, missing or
incomplete data is everywhere.

30. Encourage others’ efforts to
create authoritative systems.

31. Libraries have a key role, but
I.T. needs to be a driving force.

32. Good Data Bad Data

33. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

34. Strive to limit manually
entered data to things
that don't change.

35. Lock down the fields
where you would not want
end users to touch data.

36. Train administrative support.

37. Incentive users to keep data current.
• Department chief or other
administrator mandates compliance
• Grants office won't approve grant
unless VIVO profile is up to date
• Others?

38. Incentive users to keep data current.
• Administration uses VIVO to measure
(and reward) performance.
• Part of giving an institutional honor is
representing it in the winner’s VIVO
profile.
• VIVO is reused to create a biosketch, a
CV in institutional formatting
• Others?

39. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

40. Step #1
Get good data.
Step #2
Create something useful.

41. Step #1
Get good data.
Step #2 ex ceptional
Create something useful.

42. What meets a researcher’s
definition of exceptional?
1. Automatic CV/biosketch generation
2. Grant opportunity recommendation

43. What meets an administrators
definition of exceptional?
1. Ability to easily manipulate, visualize,
and get alerts about institutional data.

44. Warning
Esoteric metaphor ahead

45. Your boss’s boss’s boss
Your boss’s boss
Data
Administrators are avid
consumers of data.

46. Administrators want a more
usable version of this

47. What about groups of
researchers?

48. What is a research group?
• Most granular and maybe the most important
organizational unit of the research endeavor
• Often led by one (or sometimes two) senior faculty
members.
• Contains a diverse group of people:
- principal investigator(s)
- postdoctoral fellows
- postdoctoral associates
- research fellows
-graduate students

49. Research groups have shared
interests, requiring a polished
and current public face
• attract high quality talent
• showcase their lab's publications
• show off images of their work (image galleries)
• keep track of and promoting journal club and
speakers
• links to commonly used resources

50. searche rs good
Are re
web de signers?

51. Researchers’ web presence
need not tittilate design
snobs, but... they shouldn’t be
an homage to MySpace either.

55. ???

56. Tool for groups to easily
maintain great web presences

58. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

59. Champions...
• Allocate time and resources for your
team, especially developers
• Endorse key choices
• Appreciate and articulate the need for
analyses/tools using VIVO data which
add value

60. Perennial success
with VIVO
1. Aggressively pursue the most important data.
2. Strive for automated ingest.
3. Focus on ingesting from sources maintained by
third parties.
4. If you really must manually enter data...
5. Use VIVO data to create something useful.
6. Cultivate champions.

61. Questions?
Is VIVO Facebook for Researchers?
• No Mendeley is… (Ha)
library.weill.cornell.edu