Charter of the Model Composition Special Interest Group 

(Preliminary) Charter of the Model Composition Special Interest Group at the SBML Forum

1. Chair and Contact:
   

   Martin Ginkel,
   Max-Planck-Institute Magdeburg, Sandtorstr. 1,
   D-39106 Magdeburg
   Tel +49 391 6110 482
   Fax +49 391 6110 529
   Email (preferred): ginkel@mpi-magdeburg.mpg.de

   Co-Chair: my suggestion is Andrew Finney

2. Discussion Forum:
   Currently we use the sbml-discuss Mailing list at sbml-discuss@caltech.edu with Subject: [sbml-discuss] COMP ...
   Archives are kept at:
   http://www.sbw-sbml.org/sbml-discuss/archive/maillist.html
   I will prepare some webspace (possibly for group editing) at
   http://www.mpi-magdeburg.mpg.de/zlocal/martins/sbml-comp/
   Mainly the different proposals will be kept there intially.
3. Mission statement and Scope:
   

   Definition of an extension of the SBML standard that allows for composition of models out of partial models. `Model' refers here to a model as some construct containing all elements that are specified in the current and future SBML standard(s). Main features to achieve:

   • Definition of different models in SBML documents as submodels or modules (submodels with specified interface) (see below)
   • Instantiation of submodels in a model (->model-instances)
   • Linkage of different model-instances
   • Parametrization of model-instances (in cooperation with the parameter-sets SIG)
   This does not necessarily mean that two random SBML models from a repository that describe adjacent pathways can be composed as they are.
   Optional Goal: Allow for combining SBML models with CellML components.
4. Termination criterium:
   Model composition is included into the SBML Level 3
   or
   The idea is considered as nonsense for Systems-Biology and dropped from the SBML Agenda
   Timeframe: I expect a working proposal and first reference implementations for the next SBML Forum Meeting in Nov 2003 St. Louis
5. Deliverables:
   
   • SBML standard proposal.
   • Reference implementation of reading and writing SBML+COMP in two modeling tools to demonstrate proof of concept for the submodel exchange.
6. Dependencies of other groups:
   As mentioned before: Model instances often need to be parametrized. Therefore we need some standard that allows for setting at least parameters and initial values inside model instances. This work is done by the Parameter Sets group.
7. Joining the group:
   Please send a email to the Chair.