Multiscale modelling

The emergent properties and the ways in which biological systems operate as a whole require integration and structural organization as well as the properties of the individual system components.  Biological systems can be represented as networks which themselves typically contain regular (network) structures, and/or repeated occurrences of network patterns. The networks are also often organised a hierarchical manner, reflecting the physical and spatial organisation of the organism, from the intracellular to the intercellular level and beyond (tissues, organs etc.).  Current challenges to modeling in Systems Biology include those associated with issues of complexity and representing systems with multi-scale attributes. 

Projects

• Petri nets for multiscale systems biology - the aim of this project is to develop a theory and associated methodology to support the modelling of large and complex multiscale biological systems by the use of hierarchically coloured Petri nets.  Initial funding from has been from the EPSRC.  Investigators: David Gilbert and Monika Heiner.
• Investigation of Planar Cell Polarity using computational modelling.  PhD student: Qian Gao. Supervisors: David Gilbert and David Tree.