Cross collaboration in mathematical biosciences

A pioneering project aimed at creating an interdisciplinary network to stimulate fundamental advances in biology and mathematics through national and international collaboration has been launched at the University of Sydney.

The Mathematical Biosciences Network (MBN) based at Sydney University's School of Mathematics and Statistics brings together scientists to help answer questions of biology through the use of mathematics in the growing field of mathematical biosciences. The network was successful in the first stage Special Research Initiative funding.

The construction of mathematical models of biological systems is an important and rapidly expanding area of research. Such systems are very complex, but mathematics can serve to clarify underlying principles and identify directions for experimental research. This field includes such diverse research areas as modelling social insects, biological pattern formation, communication in neurons and neural systems, synaptic function, autonomic nervous systems, inferring evolutionary trees and studying the structure of ion channels in cells.

Questions such as Can we predict the onset of AIDS after HIV infection? and How can we simulate the growth of cancer in virtual patients? can be better understood through the use of mathematical modelling.

Created in order to provide a focus for interdisciplinary collaborative effort and training, the network has been established to help push forward the frontiers of biology and mathematics related to the fundamental problems of life. The three major themes of the network are Patterns, Pathways and Pathologies.

International collaborators include Professor Philip Maini from the Centre for Mathematical Biology at Oxford. Professor Maini is working on modelling of spatial and spatiotemporal pattern formation in embryology and development, as well as modelling the healing of wounds and tumor dynamics. Australian Professorial Fellow Philip Kuchel from Sydney University's School of Molecular and Microbial Biosciences uses mathematical modelling of biochemical systems, especially metabolic pathways in red blood cells. Dr Patrick Cregan from the Western Sydney Area Health Service is interested in modelling the pathology of bowel cancer using virtual patients.

After almost three decades of HIV/AIDS, it was only recently that a cellular automata model came close to replicating the long three-phase cycle in clinical data on T-cell populations. However, many challenges remain. Asymptotics of cellular automata appear to be crucial to understanding this cycle, but currently no such theory is known.

Professor Nalini Joshi, Network Convenor said: 'Far from being simple, the real questions of life require deep mathematics of partial and ordinary differential equations, differential geometry and non-linear dynamical systems to be answered.

'Without the theoretical underpinning provided by advanced mathematical analysis we would not have the necessary tools to carry out leading edge research into such areas as AIDS and HIV infection and the onset of different forms of cancer. The Mathematical Biosciences Network will work to stimulate advances in biological sciences and mathematics through interdisciplinary collaboration.'

Item provided courtesy of University of Sydney