The International Brain Initiative (IBI)
Data Standards and Sharing Roundtable

12 –13 January, 2020
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo, Japancontents

Greetings from the hosts 1

Useful Information 2

Program 

4

About IBI 

6

Participants Biographies 13

Greetings from the hosts
Welcome to Tokyo 2020! We are honored to host the IBI Data Standards and Sharing Roundtable,
which brings together Working Group members, experts in relevant fields, stakeholders and funders.

The aims of the Roundtable are the following:1) Understand the goals and the data management plans of different brain initiatives.
2) Define common interests, overlapping needs, and possible domains of cooperation.
3) Decide short- to long- term action plans and according WG management structure.

We hope that it will be an opportunity for fruitful discussions and a starting point for continuous
collaborations. We appreciate generous supports from the Kavli Foundation and preparations by theBrain/MINDS Beyond Promotion and Support Office.

Kenji DoyaTakashi Hanakawa
Keiji Tanaka

1The International Brain Initiative (IBI)
Data Standards and Sharing Roundtable

Useful Information
Meeting Venue
Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo		 Address: 10-8, Sekiguchi 2-chome, Bunkyo-ku, 112-8680 Tokyo, Japan		 Phone: +81 3 3943-1111		Website: https://hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.com/
About the Hotel		In 1878, Meiji-era government official Yamagata Aritomo built a garden and mansion in th		 is area full of natural beauty that he christened Chinzanso. Moved by the ever-changing nature		 of the landscape as light and wind passed through the trees, he welcomed many		 visitors to his forested gardens to share the joy. This launched our tradition of warm hospitality.		140 years have passed and Hotel Chinzanso Tokyo continues to welcome guests from		 around the world to its forested gardens and facilities where world-class service, a Japanese		 spirit of hospitality and the natural blessings of the four seasons can be fully enjoyed.		 We hope all visitors have a chance to relax and unwind in our verdant historic gardens and		 facilities overflowing with hospitality.
AccessGround Transportation		 Airport Limousine Buses are available between both Haneda and Narita Airports and the hotel.		 Please purchase your bus ticket at the airport or the hotel.		Note: Seating is limited, so please reserve your return bus ticket to the airport at your earliest		convenience. Chinzanso’s concierge can take your reservation.		 From/to Haneda Airport			Fare: Adult: ¥1,250 / Child: ¥630 Duration: Approx. 80-90 min.				 From/to Narita Airport			Fare: Adult: ¥3,200 / Child: ¥1,600 Duration: Approx. 100-180 min.		 For further information, please visit the Airport Limousine Bus website.		(https://www.limousinebus.co.jp/en/)
From/to Train Stations		 Please visit the hotel website for information. (https://hotel-chinzanso-tokyo.com/access/)
BreakfastComplimentary breakfast will be served to overnight guests at the following hotel restaurants and times.				

2“Miyuki” (Japanese style, 2nd floor, Hotel Bldg.) 7:00 – 10:00 am“Il Teatro” (Western style, 3rd floor, Hotel Bldg.) 6:30 – 10:30 am

Meeting Rooms

Jan. 12 & 13 Roundtable

Ballroom

Wisteria
Room
Foyer

Terrace

Maple
Room

Cloak RoomBridal shrine

Jan. 12 DinnerJan. 13 Lunch

Photo Studio

1st Floor Hotel Bldg.

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The International Brain Initiative (IBI)
Data Standards and Sharing Roundtable

Program

All meetings including the welcome lunch will take place in Wisteria Room, Hotel Bldg. 1F

Sunday, January 12
12:30–

Registration

13:00–14:00

Welcome Lunch

14:00–14:10

Greetings from the hosts

14:10–14:20

Introduction of the IBI: Shigeo Okabe

14:20–14:30

Summarizing of the pre-meeting survey: Agnes McMahon

14:30–15:50

Introduction of each Initiative: Research focus and data-related activities(10 minutes for each initiative; presentation 7 minutes + Q&A 3 minutes)

US BRAIN Initiative (remotely)
EU Human Brain Project
Canadian Brain Research Strategy
China Brain Initiative
Australian Brain AllianceKorea Brain Initiative
Japan Brain/MINDS
15:50–16:10

Break

16:10–17:10

Panel 1: Learning from data sharing in other fields
We invite experts from genomics, systems biology and other fields to hear how topromote effective data sharing.
(5 minutes for each panelist + discussion 35 minutes)

Panelists: Peter Goodhand, Hiroaki Kitano, Jun Seita, Magali Haas
Moderator: Kenji Doya
17:10 –17:30

Break

17:30–18:30

Panel 2: Challenges and opportunities in neurobiology data sharing
How can we best utilize floods of anatomical and physiological data by varieties ofmethods from multiple model species?
(5 minutes for each panelist + discussion 35 minutes)

Panelists: Kenneth Harris (remotely), Maryann Martone,		Alexander Woodward, Oliver Ruebel
Moderator: Maryann Martone

4

18:30–18:40

Wrap up by the facilitators

19:30–

Dinner (Maple Room, Hotel Bldg. 1F)

Day 1

Monday, January 13
8:00 –Registration

9:00 – 9:10

Greetings from the facilitators

9:10 –10:30

Panel 3: Challenges and opportunities in human brain data sharing
What do we need in managing human brain data for promoting discoveries while
addressing privacy and ethical concerns?
(5 minutes for each panelist + discussion 50 minutes)

Panelists: Russell Poldrack (remotely), Amy Bernard, Franco Pestilli,		
Takuya Hayashi, Damian Eke, Ippei Hagiwara
Moderator: Saori Tanaka
10:30–10:50

Break

10:50–12:00

Panel 4: Enabling web-scale neuroscience data interoperability
How can we promote interoperability of data from multiple sites and convergenceof data standards?
(5 minutes for each panelist + discussion 45 minutes)

Panelists: Sean Hill, Yi Zeng, Sharon Crook, Joost Wagenaar
Moderator: Sean Hill
12:00–12:10

Wrap up by the facilitators

12:10–13:30

Group Photo and Lunch (Maple Room, Hotel Bldg. 1F)

13:30–16:30

Discussion of short-/mid-/long-term goals and activities
Topics
Reviewing of the scoping document
WG meetings
Web portal within the IBI website
Publications based on the WG meeting
Summarize existing efforts and their gaps
Common framework for interoperability and promoting standards

16:30–17:00

Membership of the WG
Confirmation of the members of the WG
Selection of the chair/co-chairs of the WG

17:00–17:30

Closing remarks
Next WG meeting
Immediate action plans

19:00–

Dinner (Chef’s Table, Hotel Bldg. 5F)

Day 25

The International Brain Initiative (IBI)
Data Standards and Sharing Roundtable

About IBI
Vision & Aspirational Goals
Vision of the International Brain Initiative
Catalysing and advancing ethical neuroscience research through international collaborationand knowledge sharing, by uniting diverse ambitions to expand scientific possibility, anddisseminating discoveries for the benefit of humanity.
Aspirational Goals of the International Brain Initiative
1. Promote coordination and leadership• Among scientists: Leverage resources and expertise available in different countries to provide		 the best value for investment, minimise duplication of effort, maximise reproducibility of results,		 and standardise data collection and sharing.
• In large-scale research programs: Identify areas of greatest potential global impact and		 coordinate large-scale and interdisciplinary research programs. As new capabilities arise,		 articulate and help resource large-scale equipment and facilities to be utilised by groups around		 the world.
• In innovative funding solutions: Promote strategic investment in global initiatives and leverage		 private foundation projects and their interaction with public sectors to maximise global efforts.
2. Transcend borders• Between countries: Support an interface between countries to promote involvement in the		 International Brain Initiative and enable synergistic interactions.
• Between research fields: Promote interdisciplinary approaches to neuroscience and training		 across different fields to drive neuroscience discovery and innovation.
• Between global research efforts: Provide a platform for collaboration between existing global		 research efforts and international neuroscience-relevant societies to establish means of		 interacting with brain researchers.
3. Share and disseminate knowledge• To global citizens: Engage in a meaningful dialogue with citizens, patients, and all stakeholder		 communities around the world to understand their interests and communicate transparently		 about the opportunities and challenges arising from the latest research in neuroscience and		 brain-inspired artificial intelligence.
• To accelerate discovery: Implement mechanisms for the rapid dissemination of information and		 global data sharing to accelerate discovery.
• To drive research translation and application: Promote the acquisition of standardised data so		 that commercial risk is reduced for translation and provide a platform for engagement with		 industry to provide translation of discoveries.
4. Shaping the future• To empower future generations of neuroscientists: Through innovative transdisciplinary		 training that embraces a global research perspective and the benefits of neuroscience for all.
• Of international collaboration: Develop innovative and dynamic models for international		 research collaboration including public and private stakeholders.
• To promote brain health: Practice a culture of sharing data related to brain diseases to enable		 integrated application and translation to improve brain health on a global scale.
• Of ethical neuroscience practice: Advance neuroscience with neuroethics as an integral part		 of the global neuroscientific enterprise.
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Mission, Core Activities, and IBI Working Group Charge
MISSION OF THE IBIThe IBI will accelerate neuroscience by enabling research activity and collaboration at a global scale.
The IBI will achieve these goals by:• Identifying common priorities across the national brain initiatives and facilitating the exchange of		 ideas, opportunities and challenges among the initiatives• Building networks and catalyzing collaborations involving the initiatives, scientists in academia		 and industry, philanthropy, government, civil society, and scientific stakeholders• Augmenting the national brain initiatives with programs and resources that will broadly benefit		 global neuroscience
CORE IBI ACTIVITIES FOR THE NEXT THREE TO FIVE YEARS• Facilitate clear, efficient and regular communication among the member initiatives about their		 goals, programs, investments, participants and needs• Disseminate tools and discoveries, as well as new models for neuroscience research,		 collaboration, and financial support• Build trusting, collaborative relationships among representatives from the member initiatives,		 academia, government, philanthropy, scientific societies and other relevant groups• Identify projects of shared interest that would augment member initiatives (including goals for		discovery and translation), and secure exploratory support for those projects• Facilitate matches between interested funders and the collaborative teams leading pilot projects• Experiment, iterate and learn from experience, sharing lessons learned broadly as a means to		 change the sociology of science
CHARGE TO THE IBI WORKING GROUPS• Gather a clear understanding and record of the plans and goals of different brain initiatives in the		 given Working Group space.
• Define common interests, overlapping needs, and possible domains of cooperation.
• Brainstorm and recommend up to three potential projects to be achieved within a two- year		 span. These early-stage ideas will be shared with the Strategy Committee, Stakeholders		 Collective, and Funders Collective to explore whether there is a collective interest in developing		 the idea further.
• Develop a theme or framework for potential white paper which could include short- mid- and		 long- term goals for IBI efforts in the Working Group’s space.

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The International Brain Initiative (IBI)
Data Standards and Sharing Roundtable

About IBI
Organizational Structure Summary and Definitions
The organizational structure of the International Brain Initiative (IBI) provides a framework forcoordination and collaboration between large scale brain projects and initiatives. This proposed
structure seeks to maximize efficient communication to enable the realization of the vision of the IBI.
The aim of this document is to describe the roles and mechanisms through which those involved with
the IBI may engage and realize its vision.
Vision of the International Brain Initiative
Catalysing and advancing ethical neuroscience research through international collaboration andknowledge sharing, by uniting diverse ambitions to expand scientific possibility, and disseminating
discoveries for the benefit of humanity.
Organizational Structure
The initial organizational structure is designed for the establishment phase of the IBI. In subsequent
years, it is envisaged that standing committees will be established to carry out the work of the IBI andsupport its vision.

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Strategy Committee
The Strategy Committee is comprised of leaders from the seven current neuroscience Initiatives,
each having at least one Representative. The representatives on this committee serve as liaisons
between IBI and their organisations and agencies, to update on developments and gather feedback.
This committee represents those with the largest vested interest in establishing the IBI. The StrategyCommittee is therefore expected to provide the leadership to establish the IBI and to develop theinternal governance policies and procedures for the IBI, communicate about collective strategy andsustainability with the Funders Collective, and engage in reciprocal dialogue with the Stakeholder
Collective and the Science and Supporter Community. Through its leadership and engagement, theStrategy Committee will identify the critical areas of work required to establish the IBI to achieve
its vision, establish and manage the work flow of the working groups tasks, as well as identify andenable resourcing of the work. The Committee will also be responsible for nominating chairs for theIBI Working Groups. The Strategy Committee will be led by the Chair and Co-chair, selected fromthe Strategy Committee Representatives by a democratic vote among the Strategy Committee
representatives.
IBI Working Groups
The IBI Working Groups lead and facilitate group-specific, concrete efforts in defined critical bodies ofwork. In the first year, the working groups will be devoted to tasks critical to the establishment of theIBI. Members of these groups will provide specific expertise in the area of work to be achieved. They
will be led by a Working Group Chair(s), as selected by the Strategy Committee for this initial phase,and democratically selected by Working Group Members in subsequent years. Working Groups willbe established by the Strategy Committee through democratic approval of a scoping document
submission. The Working Groups, as relatively fast-acting bodies, will default to a two-year timeline.
Current Working Groups are as follows:• Global Neuroethics• Tools & Technology• Inventory of Brain Initiatives• Data Standards & Sharing• Education & Training• Communication & Outreach
The IBI Working Groups will be responsible for identifying the goals, aims, and challenges within
their respective targeted area. Groups begin this process by explicitly stating their purpose and initialsteps.
Funders Collective
The Funders Collective is comprised of individuals from funding organizations with a shared interestin the goals of the IBI and desire to work collaboratively. The goal of the Funders Collective is topromote interaction, coordination, and collaboration among funding organizations, while working
toward capacity building and sustainability of the IBI. This funder-specific group design allows for
public and private funders to discuss their unique roles, challenges, and opportunities in neuroscience

9The International Brain Initiative (IBI)
Data Standards and Sharing Roundtable

About IBI
support. It is recognized that potential Funders Collective members may not have designated funds
to support specific activities related to the IBI Vision & Aspirational Goals. Many funders may also
be supporting, or have supported, work that was not initiated as an IBI project but may contributebest practices or other resources to the IBI. The Funders Collective will learn of the activities of theIBI, offer their unique perspectives, and work with the Strategy and Stakeholder Representatives toharmonize goals and identify challenges.
Stakeholders Collective
The Stakeholders Collective is comprised of representatives who partner with the IBI, specificallywithin these five categories: (1) leaders from major national and international brain projects (2)neuroscience societies and organizations, (3) neuroscience initiatives, (4) industry partners, and (5)affiliates. Thus, the Stakeholder Representative group will be comprised of scientists, engineers,
policy makers, ethicists, and organization and industry leaders, offering diverse and relevant expertiseto the IBI. The Stakeholder-specific group allows for neuroscience organizations to discuss theirunique roles, challenges, and opportunities for engagement with their communities. Representatives
participating in the Stakeholders Collective will use their expertise to consult during the creation of
new Working Groups and to communicate broader emerging themes to the Strategy Committee,
Funders Collective, and Working Groups. This mechanism for feedback provides the IBI entities witha crucial viewpoint of the larger global neuroscience landscape and connects to the network of theScience and Supporter Community. The Stakeholders Collective will learn of the activities of theIBI, have the opportunity to contribute perspectives and advise on best practices, and may offer toleverage existing platforms or resources to tackle areas of common interest with the IBI.
Facilitation TeamThe Facilitation Team provides the internal support for all entities within the IBI to communicate andfunction in-step with one another. It includes collaboration and coordination, with flexible financial andin-kind contributions. Members of the Facilitation Team will support collaboration and coordination
to ensure consistency and communication within the IBI, engage with stakeholders, and maintainthe IBI’s effort that transcends any single institution. While some aspects of the Facilitation Team
responsibilities include outreach, engagement, and on-boarding with potential stakeholders, the main
goal will be to maintain internal support. Coordination of resources will help build and maintain asustainable, responsive, and independent entity. The goal of the Facilitation Team is to build a strong
community to meet the goals of the initiative.
Science and Supporter Community
The Science and Supporter Community is the broader ecosystem within which the efforts of theIBI are conducted. Science and Supporter Community participants are neuroscientists and othercommunity members who have a vested interest in the proceedings of the IBI, are interested inlearning more about the IBI, and have potential to serve on the IBI Working Groups. Participation inthis community is available to any individual who meet those criteria. Members of the Science andSupporter Community are invited and encouraged to engage with the IBI, especially through theCommunication & Outreach Working Group, and via IBI newsletters, the website, and events.

10Historical Timeline

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