Workshop Goals
This meeting focuses on the application of discrete and continuous modeling to multicellular systems, and in particular is aimed at integrating processes occurring across a range of spatial and temporal scales. This modeling is relevant to a wide range of biological systems, such as the growth of microorganisms, embryogenesis, dynamics of cellular tissue and tumors, and formation of pigment cell patterns. These phenomena, resulting from cellular interactions, cannot be deduced solely from experimental analysis, but may be amenable to study in a collaborative context with experiments interfacing with mathematical and computational models.
At present, the modeling of these multicellular processes takes many forms, depending on the spatio-temporal scale and detail one wishes (or is able) to capture. At one extreme are coupled systems of ordinary differential equations, in which one assumes that the system is "well-stirred" so that all spatial information is lost and all individuals (for example, cells or biomolecules) are assumed to have identical states. At the other extreme, are individual-based models in which each element may represent an individual with assigned characteristics (for example, age or size) which can vary from one individual to the next. This approach allows for population behaviour to respond and adapt to individual-level interactions. In hybrid individual-based models, one can model intracellular phenomena by ordinary differential equations while global signalling may be modelled by partial differential equations. In this way, one can begin to address the crucial issue of modelling at different scales. There are many modelling levels between these extremes and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.
This workshop aims to bring together a small selected group of scientists in this broad field. The speakers will present many different modelling approaches, or key experimental systems, highlighting successful applications to topics in morphogenesis and related fields of biology. Group discussion sessions will be held between the speaker presentations to examine the strengths and limitations of each modelling technique, their biological applications, and appropriate conditions under which each can be used. Biocomplexity 9 is aimed at experienced researchers in this area, is timely and ranges from classical approaches right up to cutting-edge research applications. The seminars and discussion of this workshop will be gathered into a book designed to capture the current state of the field, thus being an excellent learning tool for graduates and post-docs interesting in starting to work in this area.