Agent-based models in translational systems biology.
Effective translational methodologies for knowledge representation are needed in order to make strides against the constellation of diseases that affect the world today. These diseases are defined by their mechanistic complexity, redundancy, and nonlinearity. Translational systems biology aims to harness the power of computational simulation to streamline drug/device design, simulate clinical trials, and eventually to predict the effects of drugs on individuals. The ability of agent-based modeling to encompass multiple scales of biological process as well as spatial considerations, coupled with an intuitive modeling paradigm, suggests that this modeling framework is well suited for translational systems biology. This review describes agent-based modeling and gives examples of its translational applications in the context of acute inflammation and wound healing.
An
Gary
G
Department of Surgery, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611.|Center for Inflammation and Regenerative Modeling, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Mi
Qi
Q
Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.|Center for Inflammation and Regenerative Modeling, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Dutta-Moscato
Joyeeta
J
Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.|Center for Inflammation and Regenerative Modeling, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
Vodovotz
Yoram
Y
Department of Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.|Center for Inflammation and Regenerative Modeling, McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219.
D000818:Animals; D019295:Computational Biology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D049490:Systems Biology; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical