Presenter: Dr. Paul Macklin, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Intelligent Systems Engineering, Indiana University
Title: Open source simulation tools for 3-D multicellular cancer systems biology”
Abstract: Cancer is a complex system, where many cells exchange biochemical and biomechanical signals even as they grow, divide, die, move, and exchange mechanical forces. This exchange of signals can lead to unexpected dynamics and even coordinated behavior; cancer treatments perturb this complex system, often leading to unintended results such as treatment failure and increased metastatic spread. In this talk, we will introduce a series of open source computational tools designed to study this complex system and evaluate therapeutic strategies. BioFVM simulates 3-D diffusive transport of multiple chemical signals and substrates, and PhysiCell extends BioFVM to simulate cells as they interact in this biochemical environment. PhysiCell can efficiently simulate 5-10 diffusing substrates in 10 mm3 tissues with 105 or more off-lattice cells on a desktop workstation, or distribute large hypothesis studies across HPC resources. We will demonstrate examples including hanging drop spheroids, ductal carcinoma in situ, immune attacks on heterogeneous tumors, and tumor-ECM interactions in tissue invasion. We will describe ongoing collaborations to integrate Boolean and other signaling networks into individual cell agents. We will close with recent work to evaluate hypothetical treatments using bioengineered cells and shape-changing, drug-conjugated nanoparticles. An early version of the nanotherapy simulator will be available online with a user-friendly graphical interface in the next few weeks.
Time: 09:30 - 10:30am
Place: 263 Farmington Ave, Farmington, Onyiuke Dining Room (Main Floor Near the Food Court)
Host: Anna Konstorum, Ph.D.
For more information, contact: Jane Tran Sills/Center for Quantitative Medicine at 860-679-4799/transills@uchc.edu