Research in mathematical biology Biological question Feedback Identify unresolved biological question: typically I study questions related to cancer growth and treatment Understand the biology well enough to develop a mathematical model of the biological problem Compare model predictions to biological data Re-work model until it well- describes biological data Use model to seek answers to unresolved biological question Develop mathematical model Feedback Compare to data and make predictions
Biological questions and mathematical techniques Biological Problems Mathematical & Statistical Techniques ( Prereq : BIO 201 or strong interest in, ( Prereq : Differential Equations or and willingness to learn, biology) Mathematical Biology, CSC 220) Can we describe how cancer grows Systems of ordinary (and sometimes using mathematical equations? partial) differential equations Can we predict how a tumor will respond Agent - based models: computer - based to a particular treatment? models that describe tumors at the single - cell level Can we identify which factors contribute Parameter estimation techniques: a most significantly to treatment response? combination of mathematics and statistics to test if your model well - describes a real data set Can we find optimal ways to treat cancer Sensitivity and bifurcation analysis using certain drugs? Optimization techniques Likely no availability for students in 2019-2020, but definitely looking for students for 2020-2021 onward!