COLLABORATIONS BETWEEN CHEMISTS AND BIOLOGISTS - Collaborative Computational Technologies for Biomedical Research - page 116

and confi dence. In this regard, a key to success in any collaborative effort is
the necessity that all lines of communication remain open. Each research
group involved in a collaboration has its own culture and modes of commu-
nication and cooperation. Since many different types of expertise are often
involved, and often quite different knowledge is necessary to address the
problem, it is critical that all participants be aware of and committed to the
multidisciplinary requirements of the project and recognize that success will
depend on the success of all components of the research. In other words,
making everyone around you successful is the key to your success. To ensure
this commitment and understanding, I have found that meetings of the entire
group in which research progress is formally discussed, including related
recently published literature research, be held often (weekly or biweekly). Not
only do these group meetings provide open communication channels and
shared goals, but equally importantly they provide everyone the opportunity
to know who is doing what and how it all fi ts into the ultimate goals. From
these discussions it often also is clear who should write which papers and who
will be fi rst author. I have found this minimizes any confl icts down the road
about who gets credit for what and why and whether and what aspects of the
research should be published in chemical/biophysical journals and which
should be published in biological/medical journals.
Another key issue that is increasingly critical for successful collaborative
research at the interface of chemistry and biology (including medicine) is the
availability of state - of - the - art infrastructure. Generally the biological chemists
will need access to outstanding X-ray, NMR, mass spectrometry, sequencing,
cell scanning and imaging, cell development and cell growth facilities, and
screening/assay facilities, not to mention ultracentrifuges, high-performance
liquid chromatographs (analytical and preparative), and so on. For their part
the biologist needs outstanding facilities for obtaining genomics, proteomics
and other critical biological data, animal models and the facilities to develop
new animal models, knockout and knockin animals, cellular and animal
imaging equipment, facilities for a wide variety of behavioral and other whole-
animal studies, and much more. The beauty of good collaboration, of course,
is that various diverse physical, chemical, and biological tools can be brought
to bear on the problem, but of course this requires careful division of labor
and maximal communication so that all involved can maximize creativity and
productivity. Simply wishing or hoping that such effi cacy will be obtained in
collaborations will not lead to creative accomplishments. Everyone must be
committed to success of the larger goals and be able and willing to commit
their time and creativity to the overall goals.
Finally, and this is every bit as critical to successful collaboration, the admin-
istration of the departments involved, the colleges involved, the business and
research offi ces involved, and the upper administration (vice presidents, pro-
vosts, presidents) must be committed to the success of others, especially others
whom they cannot and should not control. From my experience this is where
collaborative efforts are often stymied or destroyed, often with utter disregard