Faq
From pistoia
- ===What is the Pistoia Alliance?===
- ===Why was it started?===
- ===Who is involved?===
- ===Why is it called the Pistoia Alliance?===
- ===What is happening at the moment?===
- ===How can my company get involved?===
- ===What projects have been proposed so far?===
- === ===
- === ===
What is the Pistoia Alliance?
#whatAn Open Source initiative known as the Pistoia Alliance has been established to streamline non-competitive elements of the pharmaceutical drug discovery workflow by the specification of common business terms, relationships and processes. Initial focus has been on chemistry, biological screening and sample logistics.
Why was it started?
#whyEvery research-based pharmaceutical/animal health/agrochemical company is challenged by the technical interconversion, collation and interpretation of drug/agrochemical discovery data, and as such, there is a vast amount of duplication, conversion and testing that could be reduced if a common foundation of data standards, ontologies and web-services could be established within a nonproprietary and non-competitive framework. Such would allow interoperability between a traditionally diverse set of technologies to benefit the entire sector.
Through global collaboration, this pragmatic community will derive, instantiate and make available web-services for consumption by Academic institutions, Vendors and Companies under an Open Source framework.
Who is involved?
#whoThe initial founding group of Pistoia includes representatives from the respective Discovery Informatics groups of AstraZeneca, GlaxoSmithKline, Novartis and Pfizer.
Why is it called the Pistoia Alliance?
#nameThe group first met in the Italian town of Pistoia, Tuscany, since some members were already attending another meeting. It is not true to say that the group chooses locations based on their restaurant quality, but Pistoia is a very nice place. It is also home to a company making trains.
What is happening at the moment?
#current[15 August 2008] The founding members have created a non-for-profit incorporation known as the Pistoia Alliance Inc. The establishment of this legal entity allows the group flexibility to pursue our objectives.
Once its by-laws, constitution and other operational elements are established, the Pistoia Alliance will be open to all to join and contribute to the activities of the Alliance.
How can my company get involved?
#getting-involvedOnce the materials are prepared, we will publish the method by which organisations can apply to become members. The priorities of Pistoia will be determined by its member organisations, so please consider becoming a Pistoian.
What projects have been proposed so far?
#projectsOur current thoughts have included:
- Domain Model for Chemistry
- Structure Rendering
- Structure Search
- Markush representation for patent data
- Electronic Laboratory Notebook specification
- Search for Compound or Compound Material Availability
- Delivery of Compound Material
