International advice for the national DDLS program

The SciLifeLab and Wallenberg National Program for Data-Driven Life Science (DDLS), started in 2020, will soon enter its next phase. To prepare for this and to ensure the program’s continued success, the DDLS advisory committee (DAC), comprising international experts in data-driven life science, conducted a comprehensive review of the program in June 2023. The DAC’s report is now available.

The DAC, of which two of the three members, Søren Brunak and Jan Ellenberg, are also members of the SciLifeLab international Advisory Board (IAB), assessed the programs progress so far, offered insights for phase 2 and beyond, and provided advice on several strategic fronts.

Several important topics were discussed during the virtual review meeting and two key aspects that were discussed by the DAC was how to smoothly transition the DDLS program into the future and how to remain internationally leading.

“The generous long-term funding from the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and its distribution for the various purposes are largely determined by the conditions of the donation letter, but each period of funding needs to be applied for. By seeking input and advice from international sources (IAB) on how the program has progressed so far and receive new ideas on what aspects are important in the future, as well as whether any changes are needed, we can ensure the continued success of the program. This report has many excellent ideas that the DDLS steering group and the SciLifeLab board will be discussing for the next funding period”, says SciLifeLab Director and DDLS Program Director, Olli Kallioniemi (KI).

In summary, the DAC members were highly impressed by the significant progress of the DDLS program thus far. Their recommendations have now been consolidated in a joint DAC report which the DDLS management will respond to shortly. We encourage all stakeholders to contribute to this response by submitting your comments on the DDLS Advisory Committee (DAC) joint review report to ddls@scilifelab.se

Overall recommendations from the DAC:

1. Remain leading and avoid early “lock-in”.
2. Form a truly integrated and collaborative DDLS student community.
3. Use the postdoc program to link the DDLS groups collaboratively and with the Swedish life science community at large.
4. Take full advantage of the ability of SciLifeLab to support, integrate and coordinate collaborative work.
5. Ensure impact by propelling basic and applied data-driven life science to the next level
6. Stay at the cutting edge of the AI technology revolution.

You can find the Joint DDLS advisory committee (DAC) report here.