Tools

Nationally, the platform is coordinated by a Coordinator and Deputy Coordinator who oversee its strategic direction. It brings together a wide network of researchers and technical experts from institutions active in structural bioinformatics, genomics, metagenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and systems biology. This diverse expertise enables collaborative development and maintenance of software tools and workflows that meet the analytical needs of the Italian and European life science community.

The platform’s activities include the provision and maintenance of computational workflows and tools supporting a wide range of molecular analyses. It emphasises interoperability, reproducibility, and long-term sustainability, aligning all developments with community-endorsed standards and FAIR data principles. It also connects tool development with training, ensuring the availability of relevant educational resources to support the adoption and effective use of these tools.

Focus Areas of Activity

• Development and maintenance of bioinformatics tools and workflows
• Interoperability and FAIR compliance of software resources
• Scientific benchmarking and comparative evaluation of tools
• Integration of tools with multi-omics data (genomics, proteomics, etc.)
• Promotion of software development best practices and sustainability
• Alignment of tools with training initiatives and resources

Synergy with ELIXIR Europe

The ELIXIR-IT Tools Platform is closely aligned with the ELIXIR Europe Tools Platform, actively contributing to joint activities and work packages. Italian experts participate in pan-European initiatives focused on benchmarking, tool evaluation, and software interoperability. This coordination ensures the integration of national tools into the broader ELIXIR ecosystem and reinforces the role of Italy in shaping the European bioinformatics infrastructure.