Worldwide Collaboration Research Articles

The Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center: Leveraging Academic Innovation to Advance Novel Targets through HTS and Beyond

The Emory Chemical Biology Discovery Center (ECBDC) aims to accelerate high throughput biology and translation of biomedical research discoveries into therapeutic targets and future medicines by providing high throughput research platforms to scientific collaborators worldwide. ECBDC research is focused at the interface of chemistry and biology, seeking to fundamentally advance understanding of disease-related biology with its HTS/HCS platforms and chemical tools, ultimately supporting drug discovery. Established HTS/HCS capabilities, university setting, and expertise in diverse assay formats, including protein-protein interaction interrogation, have enabled the ECBDC to contribute to national chemical biology efforts, empower translational research, and serve as a training ground for young scientists. With these resources, the ECBDC is poised to leverage academic innovation to advance biology and therapeutic discovery.

Odile Bain (April 28, 1939–October 16, 2012): A Life Dedicated to Systematics and Biology of Filariae

​OdileOdile Bain was born on April 28, 1939, in Dalat, Vietnam, where her father, a military officer, was based. She went to high school in Dakar, Senegal, and graduated in biology in Rennes (France) in 1960. She taught biology at a high school for two years and then worked as a teaching assistant at the Faculty of Rennes in 1962. In 1963, she started a postgraduate course in histology in Paris. Odile moved to the Natural History Museum in Paris, France, in September 1964 to join the Helminth Zoology laboratory of Prof. Alain Chabaud. It was there that she began to build an incredible career in parasitology. She first graduated with her PhD (“these de 3eme cycle”) in histology in April 1968. Then, in April 1971, she was awarded her “Doctorat d'Etat es Sciences Naturelles” for her work on “Evolution des filaires chez le vecteur: morphologie larvaire et mecanismes du passage des microfilaires dans l'hemocele.” In the meantime, she was appointed by the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) in October 1965 as an undergraduate research assistant; then she was granted a position as a CNRS research associate (chargee de recherche) in October 1971 and, later, in January 1984, as a CNRS research supervisor (directeur de recherche). Image 1 Photo courtesy of Kerstin Junker (Ile de France, 2008). The laboratory is a parasitology history lesson in itself. It was founded in 1961 by Prof. Chabaud and gathered specialists of different groups of “worms” and protozoa. Prof. Chabaud supervised several teams of research on parasitic nematodes, trematodes, cestodes, and protozoa. The laboratory was originally located on rue Cuvier but moved to its present location on rue Buffon in 1981. The laboratory quickly established itself as a centre of excellence, but it retained an unbridled hospitality supported by good food and a sucession of resident canine friends. It is in this laboratory that Odile honed her parasitological and morphological skills. She had a passion for biology and microscopy that was unrivalled and universally recognised. In her 50-year career, she published more than 360 articles (Text S1) and had 30 years of successive contracts with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation, and the European Union. In 1974, she received the bronze medal of the CNRS, and in 1984, she won the Foulon prize from the French Academy of Sciences for her work on the zoology and parasitology of filarial infections. She was also the curator of the zooparasitic nematodes collection at the French National Natural History Museum, Paris. Odile's primary expertise was the systematics of filariae, and her intimate knowledge of the biology of filariae led to characterization of the phyletic relationships between filarial lineages and those of non-filarial nematodes. Odile's group studied a large number of filarial species collected in many countries, which led to countless worldwide collaborations. Over time, the scope of her research expanded to encompass the medically relevant filarial species that cause diseases of humans in the tropics. In these studies she investigated aspects of vector biology that relate to filarial worm infection with the end goal of devising a means to control transmission. She also developed a strong interest in finding and identifying the vectors of lesser-known zoonotic filarial species. Her knowledge of animal filariae also resulted in the establishment of experimental models of filariasis in rodents (Monanema martini with skin-dwelling microfilariae, Molinema dessetae), including Litomosoides sigmodontis, which is the only filaria capable of establishing patent infections in laboratory mice. Use of these models to study host–parasite interactions has significantly advanced the study of filarial disease, chemotherapy, and immunology. Besides being a most highly respected scientist who strove for only the highest quality research, Odile Bain was an eternal and energetic optimist who welcomed everyone with friendliness, and whose enthusiasm and curiosity were infectious. We all deeply feel her loss and will remember the smiling Odile, always ready to take on new challenges in science.

From Silos to Multilingual Science

Scientists who can communicate across disciplines are essential to fluid translation and must be developed systematically through targeted training.

Collaborative simulation and scientific big data analysis: Illustration for sustainability in natural hazards management and chemical process engineering

Classical approaches for remote visualization and collaboration used in Computer-Aided Design and Engineering (CAD/E) applications are no longer appropriate due to the increasing amount of data generated, especially using standard networks. We introduce a lightweight and computing platform for scientific simulation, collaboration in engineering, 3D visualization and big data management. This ICT based platform provides scientists an “easy-to-integrate” generic tool, thus enabling worldwide collaboration and remote processing for any kind of data. The service-oriented architecture is based on the cloud computing paradigm and relies on standard internet technologies to be efficient on a large panel of networks and clients. In this paper, we discuss the need of innovations in (i) pre and post processing visualization services, (ii) 3D large scientific data set scalable compression and transmission methods, (iii) collaborative virtual environments, and (iv) collaboration in multi-domains of CAD/E. We propose our open platform for collaborative simulation and scientific big data analysis. This platform is now available as an open project with all core components licensed under LGPL V2.1. We provide two examples of usage of the platform in CAD/E for sustainability engineering from one academic application and one industrial case study. Firstly, we consider chemical process engineering showing the development of a domain specific service. With the rise of global warming issues and with growing importance granted to sustainable development, chemical process engineering has turned to think more and more environmentally. Indeed, the chemical engineer has now taken into account not only the engineering and economic criteria of the process, but also its environmental and social performances. Secondly, an example of natural hazards management illustrates the efficiency of our approach for remote collaboration that involves big data exchange and analysis between distant locations. Finally we underline the platform benefits and we open our platform through next activities in innovation techniques and inventive design.

Models for Intensive Care Training. A European Perspective

The diversity of European culture is reflected in its healthcare training programs. In intensive care medicine (ICM), the differences in national training programs were so marked that it was unlikely that they could produce specialists of equivalent skills. The Competency-Based Training in Intensive Care Medicine in Europe (CoBaTrICE) program was established in 2003 as a Europe-based worldwide collaboration of national training organizations to create core competencies for ICM using consensus methodologies to establish common ground. The group's professional and research ethos created a social identity that facilitated change. The program was easily adaptable to different training structures and incorporated the voice of patients and relatives. The CoBaTrICE program has now been adopted by 15 European countries, with another 12 countries planning to adopt the training program, and is currently available in nine languages, including English. ICM is now recognized as a primary specialty in Spain, Switzerland, and the UK. There are still wide variations in structures and processes of training in ICM across Europe, although there has been agreement on a set of common program standards. The combination of a common "product specification" for an intensivist, combined with persisting variation in the educational context in which competencies are delivered, provides a rich source of research inquiry. Pedagogic research in ICM could usefully focus on the interplay between educational interventions, healthcare systems and delivery, and patient outcomes, such as including whether competency-based program are associated with lower error rates, whether communication skills training is associated with greater patient and family satisfaction, how multisource feedback might best be used to improve reflective learning and teamworking, or whether increasing the proportion of specialists trained in acute care in the hospital at weekends results in better patient outcomes.

High Impact/Low Frequency Extreme Events: Enabling Reflection and Resilience in a Hyper-connected World

Helbing (2013:51) poignantly argues that ‘Globalization and technological revolutions are changing our planet’. Along with the benefits and opportunities associated with worldwide collaboration networks comes ‘pathways along which dangerous and damaging events can spread rapidly and globally’. With our hyper-connected world underpinned by hyper or hybrid-risks, the impact of unexpected events such as floods, earthquakes, financial crisis, and cyber-attacks has revealed the fragility and vulnerabilities that lie within the social/technological/economic/political/ecological interdependent systems. In particular, events that affect critical infrastructure such as damage to electric power, telecommunications, transportation, health care systems, financial markets and water-supply systems can have local, regional and global impact. Taleb (2007) calls these extreme events ‘Black swans’ to describe their inherent quality of surprise. Many of the systemic risks that characterize Natural Hazard triggered Technological disasters (NATECH) often arise from unanticipated consequences of interactions within and between different types of systems. Johnson and Tivnan (2012:65) argue that, ‘…understanding, controlling and predicting extreme behavior [of NATECH] is an important strategic goal to support resilience planning’. In this light, a new paradigm is required to support disaster risk reduction (DRR) embedded in hyper-risks; one that will develop not only anticipatory measures for risk management but also prepare for the unpredictable and the ‘unknown’ by building organisational resilience for hyper-risks in general and NATECH disasters in particular. In this paper we explore the emergency management domain associated with the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear accident to show the hyper-connectivity and hyper-risks that permeated the problem space and thereby show how ‘reflective responses’ underpinned by ‘critical reflective practices’ can be used to support resilience in such a complex disaster.

The Science DMZ: A Network Design Pattern for Data-Intensive Science

The ever-increasing scale of scientific data has become a significant challenge for researchers that rely on networks to interact with remote computing systems and transfer results to collaborators worldwide. Despite the availability of high-capacity connections, scientists struggle with inadequate cyberinfrastructure that cripples data transfer performance, and impedes scientific progress. The ScienceDMZparadigm comprises a proven set of network design patterns that collectively address these problems for scientists. We explain the Science DMZ model, including network architecture, system configuration, cybersecurity, and performance tools, that creates an optimized network environment for science. We describe use cases from universities, supercomputing centers and research laboratories, highlighting the effectiveness of the Science DMZ model in diverse operational settings. In all, the Science DMZ model is a solid platform that supports any science workflow, and flexibly accommodates emerging network technologies. As a result, the Science DMZ vastly improves collaboration, accelerating scientific discovery.

Becoming Refugias: Climate Change and a Change of Heart

Climate change is the most significant moral, ethical and spiritual issue of our time. All other social and justice issues are increasingly linked back to climate change. Leaders of the major world religions have written documents and called for people of faith to become engaged. Yet, faith communities do not become engaged in this social and spiritual concern. Secular society is looking for moral guidance and faith communities have significant wisdom and practices to offer. Linking science with theological reflections, justice imperatives and praxis may assist ministers in grappling with the critical concern of climate change that looms ever larger as we move deeper into the twenty-first century. The shift in worldview and theology that is required could not only renew the earth and care for brothers and sisters but could be an opportunity for renewing religious traditions and deepening a sense of identity, collaboration and community worldwide.

Global Genome Initiative Finding Roots of Mental Illness

Back to table of contents Previous article Next article Clinical and Research NewsFull AccessGlobal Genome Initiative Finding Roots of Mental IllnessJun YanJun YanSearch for more papers by this authorPublished Online:8 Nov 2013https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.pn.2013.11a10AbstractBy sharing data, technology, expertise, and new discoveries, researchers are quietly but rapidly pushing forward to reveal the genetic and biochemical causes of psychiatric disorders.This is the first of a two-part series on the state of the art in studying the genetics of mental illness. Part 2 will look at advances in research on the genetics of schizophrenia.The past few years have seen a flurry of genomewide association studies (GWAS) reporting newly discovered, statistically robust genetic variants linked to schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The field of psychiatric genetics seems energized once again.For example, a recent study uncovered 22 locations on chromosomes (loci) associated with increased risk of schizophrenia (Psychiatric News, October 18), and cross-disorder analyses pointed to overlaps of risk loci among five psychiatric disorders (Psychiatric News, April 5, September 17). Several genes have emerged as potential links in the chain of biological dysfunction. These discoveries are robust and replicable, with convincing statistical power. Behind the progress is a worldwide collaboration called the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium (PGC), which has united most researchers in the field and created a synergy that is rapidly advancing the biochemistry of mental illness. The consortium has already produced tantalizing clues about the nature of these disorders, with the promise of a lot more to come.Previously, twin and family studies estimated that psychiatric disorders are partially heritable and that some, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and autism, are highly (70 percent to 80 percent) heritable. However, early searches for disease-causing genes have not turned up major contributors that follow the Mendelian inheritance pattern. Scientists have been hunting for the culprit genes for over a decade in common variants, rare variants, and copy number variants (CNV). Early genetic studies found a handful of candidate genes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder that each contribute to only a very small percentage of illness in all patients, which led scientists to believe that psychiatric disorders each involve a large number of disease-related genetic defects. GWAS in other multifactorial diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases, demonstrated that the smaller a gene’s contribution to disease risk, the larger the study sample has to be in order to detect it while weeding out false “hits.”It became apparent that psychiatric genetic research needs big datasets, big tools, and “big science.” Thus, consortia in the United States, United Kingdom, and Europe were formed to pool separate genomic datasets to achieve large sample sizes. In 2007, the PGC emerged to “conduct meta-analyses of genomewide genetic data” collected from patients with various psychiatric disorders, according to the consortium’s Web site (http://pgc.unc.edu). Patrick Sullivan, M.D., is one of the founders of the PGC, a coalition including “nearly all researchers in the field of psychiatric genetics.”Story Driven MultimediaThe PGC is a coalition of, to date, approximately 400 scientists from 25 countries, encompassing “nearly all researchers in the field of psychiatric genetics,” Patrick Sullivan, M.D., a professor of genetics and psychiatry and director of the Psychiatric Genomics Department at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, told Psychiatric News. Sullivan is a founding member of the PGC and coordinates the major depressive disorder (M.D.D) analysis group. As researchers around the world independently conduct their studies, the genotyping data of patients, families, and controls they have collected are forwarded to one of several repositories, including the National Institute of Mental Health Genomics Resource and Repository (https://www.nimhgenetics.org), the database of Genotypes and Phenotypes (dbGaP, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gap), and the Wellcome Trust Case-Control Consortium (http://www.wtccc.org.uk). Initially, the datasets included schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, M.D.D, autism, and ADHD. Recently, genotyping data from patients with anorexia, posttraumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, as well as obsessive-compulsive disorders and Tourette syndrome have been added. Each group conducts meta-analyses of pooled data on the disorder, and members agree to share their results as quickly as possible. They also share the credit, as each PGC publication lists all investigators who have contributed data to the analyses. Currently, 170,000 individuals’ genotyping data, including patients, families, and controls, are being analyzed by PGC. The number will increase by another 100,000 within the next year. The consortium is “by far the largest biological experiment in the history of psychiatry,” said Sullivan.“Scientists in the field have come together in an altruistic manner,” he noted. “We just had two groups who contributed their data even before their own studies are published. It shows a profound sign of commitment to collaboration.” ■ ISSUES NewArchived

Adults With Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Outcomes in a New Cohort of Patients

With improvements in surgical technique, children with palliated hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) are now surviving to adulthood. Little is known about this emerging adult population.

International Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group: a call for worldwide collaboration

International Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder Study Group: a call for worldwide collaboration

AB0599 The oa trial bank: individual patient data meta-analysis of trials investigating the effectiveness of intra-articular corticosteroid injections in patients with knee or hip oa

BackgroundBased on small to moderate effect size of the wide range of symptomatic treatments in osteoarthritis (OA), and the heterogeneity of OA patients, treatment guidelines for OA have stressed the...

Abstract ADV06: The power of social media in patient advocacy.

Abstract Patient advocates are harnessing the power of social media by developing relationships with like-minded advocates from around the globe. Worldwide collaboration is now achieved seamlessly thanks to outlets like twitter with messages appended using a hash tag Of greatest interest to me is bringing the voice of the patient to every aspect along the research continuum. Our unique perspective as stakeholders whose lives are directly impacted brings invaluable input to the table. From assisting in the writing of lay abstracts for funding applications to the review of grant applications, the voice of the patient is crucial. No longer will content sit on the sidelines, advocates want to be active participants in their treatment and many of us are especially interested in playing a role in the determining what constitutes worthwhile research. If it doesn't matter to the vast majority of the patient population, is it worth pursuing? While each individual story is important, the collective voice of the community is the most important voice of all. Through social media interaction, a "connected" advocate has their finger on the pulse of what is important within their community. We sit in major conferences, sharing presentations in real time with others who are not in attendance. Active social media advocates are sharing stories as they hit the medical journals, discussing their relevance and oftentimes have doctors participating those discussions. Patients as partners, as collaborators whose voices are making a difference represent a powerful and positive paradigm shift in medical treatment and in the research landscape. Citation Format: Annemarie Ciccarella. The power of social media in patient advocacy. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr ADV06. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-ADV06

Cystatin C adaptation in the first month of life

Je-Hyan Lee et al. have published a study on cystatin C concentrations in the first 30 days of life in 127 pre-term and 119 term neonates in this edition of Pediatric Nephrology, thereby closing a knowledge gap of detailed cystatin C concentrations beyond 72 h of life by day of life and by post-conceptional age. While the study objective has merit and a large number of measurements were included, there are some methodological limitations that bring the validity of the data into question as pure reference intervals for children up to 1 month of age, mostly because of the inclusion of patients that potentially could have an impaired glomerular filtration rate (GFR), for instance due to exposure to nephrotoxic drugs. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the study and outline an approach to definitely close this knowledge gap. We call for a worldwide collaboration to use Box-Cox transformations similar to the methodology used with growth charts to calculate age-independent z-scores and percentiles of neonatal and infant markers of GFR. This could also lead to better definitions of acute kidney injury in infants if GFR markers cross the percentiles based on post-conceptional or chronological age.

Role of methotrexate in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: where we have been and where we are going

Methotrexate is a cornerstone of therapy worldwide for juvenile idiopathic arthritis, yet there remains vast variability in drug dosing and administration, as well as unpredictable outcomes on the drug. Recent efforts through worldwide organization and collaboration have resulted in large registries from which we can now collect clinical data, attempts to standardize therapeutic management with methotrexate and ongoing goals to further individualize drug therapy. Recent studies in juvenile idiopathic arthritis have begun to predict outcomes on the drug by investigating clinical, genetic and cellular biomarkers in children. Pediatric rheumatology as a field has grown from extrapolating data from adult studies to overcoming the barriers to conduct needed investigations in children; however, there remains much to learn and discover about this commonly used drug in juvenile idiopathic arthritis. This nonsystematic review will briefly discuss the history of methotrexate use in juvenile arthritis, the current c...

International clinical practice guidelines for the treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis associated with central venous catheters in patients with cancer

Although long-term indwelling central venous catheters (CVCs) may lead to pulmonary embolism (PE) and loss of the CVC, there is lack of consensus on management of CVC-related thrombosis (CRT) in cancer patients and heterogeneity in clinical practices worldwide. To establish common international Good Clinical Practices Guidelines (GCPG) for the management of CRT in cancer patients. An international working group of experts was set up to develop GCPG according to an evidence-based medicine approach, using the GRADE system. For the treatment of established CRT in cancer patients, we found no prospective randomized studies, two non-randomized prospective studies and one retrospective study examining the efficacy and safety of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) plus vitamin K antagonists (VKAs). One retrospective study evaluated the benefit of CVC removal and two small retrospective studies were on thrombolytic drugs. For the treatment of symptomatic CRT, anticoagulant treatment (AC) is recommended for a minimum of 3 months; in this setting, LMWHs are suggested. VKAs can also be used, in the absence of direct comparisons of these two types of anticoagulants in this setting [Guidance]. The CVC can be kept in place if it is functional, well-positioned and non-infected and there is good resolution under close surveillance; whether the CVC is kept or removed, no standard approach in terms of AC duration has been established [Guidance]. For the prophylaxis of CRT in cancer patients, we found six randomized studies investigating the efficacy and safety of VKA vs. placebo or no treatment, one on the efficacy and safety of unfractionnated heparin, six on the value of LMWH, one double-blind randomized and one non randomized study on thrombolytic drugs and six meta-analyses of AC and CVC thromboprophylaxis. Type of catheter (open-ended like the Hickman(®) catheter vs. closed-ended catheter with a valve like the Groshong(®) catheter), its position (above, below or at the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium) and method of placement may influence the onset of CRT on the basis of six retrospective trials, four prospective non-randomized trials, three randomized trials and one meta-analysis. In light of these data: use of AC for routine prophylaxis of CRT is not recommended [1A]; a CVC should be inserted on the right side, in the jugular vein, and distal extremity of the CVC should be located at the junction of the superior vena cava and the right atrium [1A]. Dissemination and implementation of these international GCPG for the prevention and treatment of CRT in cancer patients at each national level is a major public health priority, needing worldwide collaboration.

The Contribution of Next Generation Sequencing Technologies to Epigenome Research of Stem Cell and Tumorigenesis

Epigenome contains another layer of genetic information, not as stable as genome. Dynamic epigenome can serve as an interface to explain the role of environmental factors. Stem cell and tumorigenesis are reported to be closely associated with epigenome modifications. Next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have directly leaded to the recent advances in epigenome research of stem cell and cancer. DNA methylation and histone modification are two major epigenetic modifications. Four NGS-based approaches have been developed to identify these two epigenetic modifications, including whole genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS), methylated DNA Immunoprecipitation Sequencing (MeDIP-Seq), reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq). This paper reviews the recent advances of WGBS, MeDIP-Seq and RRBS for DNA methylation and ChIP-Seq for histone modification in the field of stem cell. The potential contribution of epigenetic modifications to tumorigenesis is also described. At present, the epigenome research still faces the defects of current sampling strategy and unknown network regulation pattern. In future, worldwide collaboration and latest sequencing technologies application are expected to solve these problem and offer new insight into epigenome research.

Public-private perception of collaborative infrastructure projects in Nigeria

The growing complexity of infrastructure projects, the attendant increase in project risk/uncertainty, the effects of the current global economic-recession, and the unprecedented demand on government agencies/institutions to provide better/efficient infrastructure/services have gradually reduced the need for a single supplier of many infrastructure services. However, the problems/issues associated with the implementation/operationalisation of collaborative engagement approaches worldwide over the last two decades prompted the need to identify/analyse the drivers of collaboration and determine the core-drivers of public-private sector collaboration in road infrastructure project management in Nigeria. In all, 45 survey-questionnaires were administered to relevant professionals/stakeholders in both the public and private sectors of Nigeria. The Mann-Whitney U test showed that there is no significant difference between the perception of the public and private sectors about the drivers of collaboration. The Relative Importance Index/ranking of the drivers also revealed that communication, trust, globalisation/collaboration, market-maturity, technology, relationships, finance, skills/competence, legal/regulatory framework, and risk are key-drivers that need to be aligned to existing business-models in Nigeria for the successful implementation/delivery of sustainable collaborative road infrastructure projects. Therefore, this paper advocates the establishment of a set of formal rules incorporating these core drivers in order to guide the actions of the partners to shape/deliver collaborative infrastructure projects in Nigeria.

A worldwide collaboration to harmonize guidelines for the long-term follow-up of childhood and young adult cancer survivors: a report from the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group.

Childhood and young adult cancer survivors should receive optimum care to reduce the consequences of late effects and improve quality of life. We can facilitate achieving this goal by international collaboration in guideline development. In 2010, the International Late Effects of Childhood Cancer Guideline Harmonization Group was initiated. The aim of the harmonization endeavor is to establish a common vision and integrated strategy for the surveillance of late effects in childhood and young adult cancer survivors. With the implementation of our evidence-based methods, we provide a framework for the harmonization of guidelines for the long-term follow-up of childhood and young adult cancer survivors.

Cypriniformes of Borneo (Actinopterygii, Otophysi): An Extraordinary Fauna for Integrated Studies on Diversity, Systematics, Evolution, Ecology, and Conservation

Borneo Island is governed by the countries of Brunei Darussalam, Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak) and Indonesia(Kalimantan) and is part of Sundaland. These countries have a high diversity of freshwater fishes, especially describedand undescribed species of Cypriniformes; together these species and other flora and fauna represent an extraordinaryopportunity for worldwide collaboration to investigate the biodiversity, conservation, management and evolution ofBorneo’s wildlife. Much of the fauna and flora of Borneo is under significant threat, warranting an immediate and swiftinternational collaboration to rapidly inventory, describe, and conserve the diversity. The Sunda drainage appears to havebeen an important evolutionary centre for many fish groups, including cypriniforms (Cyprinidae, Balitoridae andGyrinocheilidae); however, Northwestern Borneo (Brunei, Sabah and Sarawak) is not connected to Sundaland, and thisdisjunction likely explains the non-homogeneity of Bornean ichthyofauna. A previous study confirmed that northernBorneo, eastern Borneo and Sarawak shared a similar ichthyofauna, findings that support the general hypothesis forfreshwater connections at one time between western Borneo and central Sumatra, and south Borneo and Java island.Borneo is drained by five major rivers: (1) Rajang and Baram rivers in Sarawak, and (2) Kapuas, Mahakam and Baritorivers in Kalimantan. The Cypriniformes is the most diverse clade in Borneo, and it is represented by at least 285 speciesin 55 genera and eight major clades (Balitoridae, Cobitidae, Cyprinidae, Gyrinocheilidae, Leptobarbidae, rasborines,cultrines and Paedocyprididae); at least 147 (52%) of these species are endemic to the incredibly diverse habitats ofBorneo. Most fish faunal studies in Borneo have involved inventory and discovery; however, none to date have focusedtheir efforts on the great biodiversity and systematics of Cypriniformes. In this paper we briefly discuss the generalbiodiversity of cypriniforms in Borneo, including recent revisions to the classification of the order through theCypriniformes Tree of Life and Planetary Biodiversity Inventory efforts supported by the USA NSF basic scienceinitiatives, in conjunction with researchers in countries of Borneo. It is our hope that this particular summary willgalvanize individuals to increase worldwide collaborative and integrated efforts on the biodiversity of Cypriniformes,and incite lively discussions among a broad array of interested parties, including those involved in the recent and critically important “Heart of Borneo” initiative funded by all these countries and some NGOs.