ImmunoGrid: towards agent-based simulations of the human immune system at a natural scale.
The ultimate aim of the EU-funded ImmunoGrid project is to develop a natural-scale model of the human immune system-that is, one that reflects both the diversity and the relative proportions of the molecules and cells that comprise it-together with the grid infrastructure necessary to apply this model to specific applications in the field of immunology. These objectives present the ImmunoGrid Consortium with formidable challenges in terms of complexity of the immune system, our partial understanding about how the immune system works, the lack of reliable data and the scale of computational resources required. In this paper, we explain the key challenges and the approaches adopted to overcome them. We also consider wider implications for the present ambitious plans to develop natural-scale, integrated models of the human body that can make contributions to personalized health care, such as the European Virtual Physiological Human initiative. Finally, we ask a key question: How long will it take us to resolve these challenges and when can we expect to have fully functional models that will deliver health-care benefits in the form of personalized care solutions and improved disease prevention?
Halling-Brown
Mark
M
Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, University of London, , Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX, UK.
Pappalardo
Francesco
F
Rapin
Nicolas
N
Zhang
Ping
P
Alemani
Davide
D
Emerson
Andrew
A
Castiglione
Filippo
F
Duroux
Patrice
P
Pennisi
Marzio
M
Miotto
Olivo
O
Churchill
Daniel
D
Rossi
Elda
E
Moss
David S
DS
Sansom
Clare E
CE
Bernaschi
Massimo
M
Lefranc
Marie-Paule
MP
Brunak
Søren
S
Lund
Ole
O
Motta
Santo
S
Lollini
Pier-Luigi
PL
Murgo
Annalisa
A
Palladini
Arianna
A
Basford
Kaye E
KE
Brusic
Vladimir
V
Shepherd
Adrian J
AJ
D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000276:immunology*; D020407:Internet; D018448:Models, Immunological; D020543:Proteome / Q000276:immunology*; D012984:Software
D020543:Proteome