Mathematical Biology for Human Diseases

Our lab uses math and computers to model tissues, treatments, and toxicology. Often these processes involve a balance between tissue degradation and tissue formation, with the balance tipped by various chemicals.

Our lab uses math and computers to model tissues, treatments, and toxicology. Often these processes involve a balance between tissue degradation and tissue formation, with the balance tipped by various chemicals.

Learn to use math and computers to model tissues, treatments, and toxicology. 

Project description

Develop mathematical and computational models to enhance understanding of the mechanisms governing tissue damage as a result of diseases and infections and simulate the treatment of those conditions to improve human health. We introduce all new students to a suite of techniques for mathematical biology. We start with an example from cancer chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Then we provide some guidance for an open exploration period for you to investigate topics of your interest that use the techniques (the students this semester chose bone cancer immunotherapy, Crohn's disease, and glucose pumps for treating type I diabetes).

Each academic semester this opportunity is available for course credit as CE 498 for 3 credits, which counts as a technical elective for Chemical Engineering (and maybe other programs). Students are encouraged to participate for more than one semester to further develop an independent research project and apply for financial support. 

Project outcome

The project outcome will consist of a written report and a presentation detailing the participant's progress towards recreating two published models in their own code and outlining steps for future work, which they may conduct in a subsequent semester. Some opportunities for public poster presentations may be available. Relevant scholarship opportunities will be announced to participants. 

Project details

Timing, eligibility and other details
Length of commitment  1 semester
Start time  Start of an academic term
In-person, remote, or hybrid?
 Remote or hybrid
Level of collaboration Students will meet in groups for training and have their own individual student project 
Benefits Research experience
Who is eligible
 Chemical Engineering majors who have taken CE 212 OR Juniors and Seniors from any other major who have taken EAS 230 or 240 or CSE 113 or 115 or MTH 306 or PHC 411

Core partners

Project mentor

Ashlee Ford Versypt

Associate Professor

Chemical and Biological Engineering

Phone: (716) 645-9303

Email: ashleefv@buffalo.edu

Start the project

  1. Email the project mentor using the contact information above to express your interest and get approval to work on the project. (Here are helpful tips on how to contact a project mentor.)
  2. After you receive approval from the mentor to start this project, click the button to start the digital badge. (Learn more about ELN's digital badge options.) 
Start the Digital Badge

Preparation activities

Once you begin the digital badge series, you will have access to all the necessary activities and instructions. Your mentor has indicated they would like you to also complete the specific preparation activities below. Please reference this when you get to Step 2 of the Preparation Phase. 

  1. Complete the electronic course for Biomedical Responsible Conduct of Research CITI Training. See http://www.buffalo.edu/research/research-services/training/compliance-training.html
  2.  Read the research review article: Multiscale modeling in disease available at
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coisb.2021.05.001
  3. Read the research review article: Quantitative Mechanistic Modeling in Support of Pharmacological Therapeutics Development in Immuno-Oncology available at https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2019.00924 

Keywords

Chemical and Biological Engineering