"Because the problem being studied involves biological processes that evolve at various levels (molecular, cellular, tissue, organ), and the individual dynamical processes interact at multiple spatial and temporal scales, this provides a unique and challenging opportunity for the application of systems and control methodologies," says Kenneth A. Loparo, Ph.D., a co-principal investigator of the study and a professor in electrical engineering and computer science at the Case School of Engineering, "We are developing new modeling and analysis approaches based on a systems concept, and this work should provide new insight into the complex processes involved in the dynamics of cancer."

The ICBP initiative highlights nine integrative biology centers. These centers will provide the nucleus for the design and validation of computational and mathematical cancer models. The models will simulate complex cancer processes, and will be used to address all stages of cancer, from the basic cellular processes through tumor growth and metastasis. "The key aspect that sets the ICBP effort apart from others," said Daniel Gallahan, Ph.D., Associate Director, Division of Cancer Biology, NCI, "is the focus on building predictive cancer models, and not just analyzing data."

The ICBP centers also will serve as training and outreach programs, enabling developing technologies to be communicated to other scientists in the cancer research community. This outreach effort adds another level of integration, and also provides the means for other scientists to validate the usefulness of these models.

The new ICBP centers represent a broad spectrum of cancer research. The centers and their individual projects include Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, "Development of Virtual
'"/>

Contact: George Stamatis
George.Stamatis@case.edu
216-368-3635
Case Western Reserve University
8-Nov-2004