Networking as a natural consequence of outstanding research …with Florian Halbritter
In modern science, collaboration is the key to innovation and breakthroughs, especially in complex research fields such as cancer genomics. Florian Halbritter, head of the “Developmental Cancer Genomics” research group at St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute, exemplifies the importance of this interdisciplinary collaboration with his work.
As a bioinformatician, Florian Halbritter and his team work at the interface between biology, medicine, statistics and computer science. The close collaboration between the disciplines is now deeply rooted in his research approach. To get there, he has gathered many different impressions along the way and has often felt like an “oddball” in new fields of research: as a computer scientist among stem cell researchers, as a stem cell researcher among epigeneticists and immunologists and now as an epigeneticist among cancer researchers. “I have learned to feel comfortable in this role and try to approach new topics with curiosity and humility,” he says in the interview.
Halbritter has reassuring words for young researchers who feel insecure when it comes to building their own network: he does not see networking in science as a dedicated task, but as something that arises naturally through outstanding work. What he particularly appreciates about St. Anna CCRI is the close cooperation between the groups, which often results in joint international projects and thus promotes the exchange of knowledge and expertise on a global level.
To what extent do interdisciplinary collaboration and knowledge exchange play a role in your research?
Interdisciplinarity is essentially built into our approach. As bioinformaticians, we operate at the interface of biology, medicine, statistics, and computer science. My colleagues and collaboration partners hail from these diverse fields, and our daily exchange fosters fresh perspectives and makes research even more exciting.
How has the importance of collaboration changed due to technological advances?
Thanks to technological breakthroughs, we can now conduct a multitude of biomolecular measurements on the same samples while simultaneously analyzing many samples at once. Handling all these technologies and analyzing the resulting datasets is rarely manageable by a single individual. Collaboration has therefore become even more crucial.
What specific projects or research topics connect you and your research group with other groups within the CCRI?
We collaborate with nearly all groups at the CCRI on one or another project. Our primary focus lies on the early developmental stages of pediatric cancer. In order to explore and model these stages, we combine our analytical approaches with the expertise of specialists in various types of pediatric cancer at the CCRI. For instance, we work in a big project on Ewing sarcoma together with Heinrich Kovar and Martin Distel – this is funded by American charity Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation –, or together with Sabine Taschner-Mandl on neuroblastoma.
What do you value about working with the other groups?
Throughout my career, I’ve always found myself as a kind of oddball and newcomer: as a computer scientist among stem cell researchers, as a stem cell researcher among epigeneticists and immunologists, and now as an epigeneticist among cancer researchers. I have learnt to be comfortable in this role and try to approach new topics with curiosity and humility. I couldn’t do this on my own. Working with other research groups, who are experts in completely different fields, allows us to efficiently dive into these new topics and to make new discoveries together.
What are your tips for young researchers who are just starting to build a network? Are there opportunities to network at CCRI?
I wouldn’t necessarily think of networking as a task or requirement that needs to be accomplished. Simply remain receptive to the insights and contributions of others while offering your own assistance whenever possible. Good work organically fosters the growth of your network. At CCRI, collaboration and exchange among groups are pervasive, often extending to international projects, which presents numerous avenues for engagement.
How would you assess the importance of international collaborations for the success of your research group?
International collaborations not only facilitate broad knowledge exchange but also pool resources and expertise in new technologies. This makes it possible to tackle even more complex research questions and to extend the scope of our investigations. Additionally, these collaborations enhance the visibility of our work on a global scale and foster long-term partnerships that help to advance scientific breakthroughs.
Which other national or international research institutes, industrial partners or companies do you work with as part of your research activities? Which projects and how?
We often engage in collaborations with researchers in other institutions both in Austria and elsewhere in the world. For instance, we work with the genomics facilities at CeMM and the Vienna Biocenter to access their state-of-the-art technologies or with clinician-scientists and pathologists at the Medical University of Vienna to analyze tumor tissues. Internationally, we leverage a network of stem cell and developmental biologists in our efforts to model different types of pediatric cancers. For example, we are just about to start a new project on Wilms tumor in which we will work with the RIKEN institute in Japan.