During the first funding phase, the BMBF-financed network HepatoSys consisted of three interdisciplinary network projects working on specific questions of hepatocyte detoxification, endocytosis as well as regeneration. With the beginning of the second funding period in 2007 the new network project iron regulation started his work. The networks are supported by technology platforms for cell biology and modeling, which partly pursue separate projects and perform development tasks in major areas which go beyond the topics of individual collaborations. Important priorities are the development of suitable hepatocyte cell culture systems and the establishment of an overarching data, modeling and simulation platform for the overall collaboration.
Both, the research groups of the individual network projects and the researchers of the platforms will be expected to practise a high degree of cooperation and interdisciplinary communication to be able to meet demands of the complex topics dealt with in this interdisciplinary funding priority on the modeling of the human hepatic cell. The partners will be supported by an intranet ensuring fast and interactive exchanges of information. Furthermore, standardization and working protocols, SOPs and other documents of general interest and relevance will be available to all the partners in the competence network. This makes it possible to set up a functional national network of competence on systems biology, which will be incorporated into an international context in the medium term.
To provide support during the implementation of the research projects and to realise the recommendations of the international steering body, a project coordinator was appointed at to act as interface between the scientists of the competence network and the steering committee.
The members of the independent steering body were appointed by the Federal Minister of Education and Research and charged, inter alia, with the task of actively steering the scientific development of the German competence network on Systems Biology. Current members are Profs. H.V. Westerhoff (chairman), S. Neumann (vice chairman), R. Eils, J. Hoek, U. Sauer und M. Üffing.
The project management agency PTJ was charged with managing the funding activity HepatoSys.