Philip K. Maini
Director for the Centre of Mathematical Biology, Mathematical Institute
Oxford University
"Modeling Invasive Processes in Biology"
The collective movement of cells in tissue is vital for normal development but also occurs in abnormal development, such as in cancer. We will review three models:
(i) A vertex-based model to describe cell motion in the early mouse embryo
(ii) A individual-based model forneural crest cell invasion
(iii) A model for acid-mediated tumor invasion
In each case we shall use the model to answer important issues concerning biology.
For example, in (i) we shall propose a role for rosette formation. In (ii) we propose that two cell types are necessary for successful invasion. Lastly, in (iii) we shall show how the model suggests possible therapeutic strategies for tumor control.
This lecture is sponsored by the Charles Edison Lecture Series, Harper Cancer Research Institute, Department of Applied and Computational Mathematics and Statistics, and the Interdisciplinary Center for the Study of Biocomplexity.