Consortium biology in immunology: the perspective from the Immunological Genome Project

What is the role and value of consortium biology in immunology? Here, the participants of the Immunological Genome Project share their thoughts on the benefits and shortcomings of 'big science' and discuss how the immunology community can profit from engaging in this type of discovery-led research. Although the field has a long collaborative tradition, immunology has made less use than genetics of 'consortium biology', wherein groups of investigators together tackle large integrated questions or problems. However, immunology is naturally suited to large-scale integrative and systems-level approaches, owing to the multicellular and adaptive nature of the cells it encompasses. Here, we discuss the value and drawbacks of this organization of research, in the context of the long-running 'big science' debate, and consider the opportunities that may exist for the immunology community. We position this analysis in light of our own experience, both positive and negative, as participants of the Immunological Genome Project.