Information from Review Board 2.21 "Microbiology, Immunology, Virology" on the development and use of national and international databases

For the communities represented by the FK 2.21, among others, it is increasingly important that databases are available into which data from their research can be fed and from which it can also be retrieved. The DFG has long recognized this need, on the one hand demanding statements on project-specific data management in submitted proposals and on the other hand providing funds for data management itself, e.g. in the so-called Information Infrastructure Projects (INF) in Collaborative Research Centres or even more extensively for the development of databases as part of the Funding of the National Research Data Infrastructure (NFDI) consortia.

Since international databases are also of high value for research in Germany, we hereby inform you that the NIH has decided to stop funding the VEuPathDB database (including PlasmoDB, TriTrypDB, FungiDB, VectorBase etc.) as of September 14, 2024. In addition, it also appears that there are no plans to maintain the existing VEuPathDB resources as a static database without updates. The VEuPathDB is used worldwide by the mycology, parasitology and vector biology communities and it is not possible to estimate whether other international portals such as PathogensPortal.org can provide comparable resources.

The DFG cannot financially support infrastructures abroad. However, through the databases funded as part of the NFDI - in particular the NFDI4Microbiota or NFDI4Biodiversity, which are relevant for the above-mentioned communities - Germany has structures in place into which the relevant data can be fed and where it can also be retrieved. The expansion and national and international networking of the NFDI databases is a declared goal of the DFG. In addition, researchers can use consumables in DFG-funded projects to gain access to relevant data from national and international databases. It is also possible to include corresponding funds in a new proposal.

We would like to ask Review Board 2.21 to disseminate this information to the relevant communities via the relevant professional associations. Senator Petra Dersch will also be informed.