The Human Brain Project aimed to simulate the entire human brain and improve brain research through computational science. However, this goal was heavily criticized by many neuroscientists who believed that simulations alone could not explain the functions of the whole brain. In 2015, the project was reorganized to focus on developing a European digital research infrastructure for brain science and creating “brain-inspired information technology.” The project also launched an online forum to encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing among researchers. The forum was found to be an inclusive community that facilitated collaboration. The project’s research data, models, tools and results will be made accessible through EBRAINS, which will serve as a pan-European online neuroscience research platform after the project ends. While the long-term impact of the project is uncertain, the upcoming Human Brain Project Summit 2023 will provide a venue for open discussion on what the HBP has achieved.
Building Collaborative Neuroscience Research Online with the Human Brain Project
The Human Brain Project, a 10-year, 1 billion-euro initiative launched in 2013, sought to simulate the entire human brain in a supercomputer within a decade. Led by neuroscientist Henry Markram, the project was part of the European Commission’s Future and Emerging Technologies program and aimed to digitize neuroscience research by making it entirely digital. Researchers worked collaboratively across Europe, with laboratory work conducted virtually. Despite scientific controversies, the project achieved measurable success in neuroscience collaboration. The project was one of several brain initiatives launched in the past decade worldwide, driven by advances in computational technologies and neuroscience research and the increasing prevalence of mental disorders. A “brain race” between Europe, the US, Israel, Japan, and China has been taking place, all with the goal of understanding human brain function.
Human Brain Project: Controversy and Collaboration Online
Despite the scientific advancements achieved in computational technologies and neuroscience research, the 10-year, 1 billion-euro Human Brain Project, launched in 2013, faced skepticism and criticism from neuroscientists worldwide. The project aimed to simulate the entire human brain in a supercomputer within a decade, but its initial focus on computer simulations was criticized by scientists who argued that simulations alone could not explain the brain’s function without complementary experiments on animals or tissues. After over 800 neuroscientists signed an open letter calling for a revamp of the program, it was completely reorganized in 2015. From then on, its aim was to develop a European digital research infrastructure to advance brain science and create “brain-inspired information technology.”
Despite the controversy, the project was able to promote collaboration through its online forum. More than 500 scientists and engineers at over 120 research institutions across Europe and beyond engaged in HBP research activities. Although the project’s focus evolved over time, with the aim of addressing concerns raised by the open letter, it remains an open question whether it achieved its goals.
Collaborating Online in Challenging Times
Our recent research found that the Human Brain Project was able to promote collaboration despite its controversies. As economists who study how digital infrastructure can help scientists collaborate in challenging times, we found that the project’s online forum was effective in promoting collaboration among researchers from various disciplines, including neuroscience, computer science, physics, informatics, and mathematics. The forum allowed for the exchange of knowledge and ideas, as well as the sharing of data and research tools. Although the HBP experienced major changes in its structure and goals, it was able to create a digital research infrastructure to advance brain science, demonstrating the potential of online collaboration in promoting scientific progress.
Human Brain Project: Advancing Brain Sciences with Digital Infrastructure
After undergoing major restructuring, the Human Brain Project (HBP) dropped its original goal of complete brain simulation to focus on advancing brain sciences with computational science. The project launched supercomputer-powered online research platforms, called the Collaboratory, in 2016 to facilitate virtual collaboration among researchers. The infrastructure enabled the development of advanced software and complex brain simulations, providing cloud-based platforms for collaboration, data storage, data analytics, supercomputers, and modeling tools.
In 2018, the Collaboratory transitioned to EBRAINS, a permanent version powered by new E.U. neuroscience supercomputing centers. EBRAINS is intended to serve as the backbone for a pan-European online neuroscience research platform after the project ends, making the project’s research data, models, tools, and results accessible for further research.
HBP Online Forum: Facilitating Collaboration and Knowledge-Sharing
To complement the research platforms, the Human Brain Project Forum was launched in July 2015 to facilitate informal collaboration and knowledge-sharing. Users discussed project-related activities and broad neuroscience programming challenges on this public forum. The forum was opened to the public to facilitate the exchange of results and expertise with outside researchers and to help achieve the project’s ambitious goals.
To examine whether the forum succeeded in its goal of connecting researchers both within and beyond the project community, researchers analyzed patterns of user interaction and problem-solving on the forum from its launch in July 2015 through March 2021. They measured user interaction by collecting data on all posted questions and replies linked with available user information on the site or via public search. The analysis aimed to identify the factors that facilitated collaborative problem-solving, examining the solution status of the questions and users within each thread.
The Human Brain Project demonstrated the potential of digital infrastructure in promoting collaboration and advancing brain science. The project’s research platforms and online forum allowed researchers to collaborate virtually, exchange knowledge and ideas, and share data and research tools. Through EBRAINS, the project’s legacy will continue to support pan-European online neuroscience research and foster new collaborations.
Human Brain Project Forum Promotes Collaboration Among Researchers
The Human Brain Project, a European digital research infrastructure program, was reorganized in 2015 after facing controversy among neuroscientists worldwide. While the project initially aimed to simulate the entire human brain, its focus shifted to advancing brain science through computational science. The project began hosting online research platforms on the Collaboratory in 2016, which allowed researchers to virtually collaborate by providing cloud-based platforms for data storage, supercomputers, modeling tools, and more. In 2018, the platform was upgraded and became known as EBRAINS, which is intended to be the backbone for a pan-European online neuroscience research platform after the project ends. The Human Brain Project Forum was also launched in 2015 to facilitate informal collaboration and knowledge-sharing among users. Researchers discussed both project-related activities and broad neuroscience programming challenges on this public forum.
A recent study found that the Human Brain Project Forum appeared to be an inclusive online community that fostered collaboration. On average, each posted thread received 3.7 replies, and the forum received more attention and active discussion during late 2020 and early 2021. Questions about programming related to the project’s core research areas attracted more attention and were resolved more quickly. Problems with administrator support were solved faster overall. The forum showed no significant differences in online interaction patterns by project affiliation status, gender, or seniority level.
Although digitization has been identified as a need in traditionally laboratory-based life sciences, it doesn’t guarantee successful collaboration. The U.S. Brain Research Through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies Initiative takes a more traditional research approach, with multiple teams working independently on various topics. The initiative had received over $3 billion in funding by 2022, three times the amount for the Human Brain Project.
The upcoming Human Brain Project Summit 2023 aims to provide an open discussion on what the HBP has accomplished. It remains unclear how to design scientific organizations and use digitization in the process. However, institutional support for neuroscience research can yield tremendous returns, and studying the science of science research could help achieve the collaboration and shared goals these initiatives seek. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.
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