CAREER: Characterizing a Landscape of Signal Processing in the Immune System

智力优势。 信号网络是细胞和生物体的信息处理装置。这些驱动复杂的过程，例如从单个细胞发育成整个人类，并保护身体对病原体做出协调反应。 免疫系统为研究哺乳动物的发育提供了一个独特的机会。白色血细胞经历分化和增殖，这是贯穿生物体生命的永无止境的过程。这项研究的目标是提出一个全球性的，系统的观点，免疫系统，其功能和发展。 该方法基于一种新的革命性技术--质谱细胞计数法，使我们能够以前所未有的分辨率和细节观察细胞信号传导和发育。 这使得以一种全新的方式探索发育成为可能，揭开了我们如何由单个细胞组成的奥秘。更广泛的影响。 生物学研究充满了新技术，带来了新的机遇，新的挑战，最重要的是新的发现。 阐明分子信号处理和发展的一般原则在现代生物学的许多基本挑战中具有很大的实用性。 这是一个激动人心的时代，跨学科研究可以真正对生物学产生影响。 要产生这样的影响，需要在定量科学和生物科学方面都受过训练的科学家。 该项目的一个关键部分是开发将复杂科学提取到更广泛社区的方法，包括K-8科学博览会和本科生和研究生水平的专业系统生物学培训。在这个项目中开发的建模和可视化工具是理想的呈现生物系统的复杂性在一个更有形和具体的方式为学生，是理想的培训和推广资源。技术和计算的协同组合将对整个生物学的广泛主题产生变革性的影响。

Intellectual Merit. Signaling networks are the information processing devices of cells and organisms. These drive complex processes such as the development of an entire human being from a single cell and protecting the body in a coordinated response to a pathogen. The immune system presents a unique opportunity for studying development in mammals. White blood cells undergo differentiation and proliferation, a never-ending process throughout the life of the organism. The goal of this research is to present a global, systems view of the immune system, its function and its development. The approach is based on a new revolutionary technology, Mass-Cytometry, which enables us to observe cellular signaling and development at unprecedented resolution and detail. This empowers the exploration of development in a brand new way, unraveling the mystery of how we are made from just a single cell. Broader Impacts. Biological research is paved with novel technologies that lead to new opportunities, new challenges, and most importantly new discoveries. Elucidating general principles for molecular signal processing and development have great utility across a host of fundamental challenges in modern biology. This is an exciting era, during which interdisciplinary research can really make an impact on biology. To make such impact requires scientists trained in both quantitative and biological sciences. A key part of this project is to develop ways to distill complex science to a broader community, including science expo for K-8 and specialized systems biology training at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The modeling and visualization tools developed in this project are ideal for presenting the complexity of biological systems in a more tangible and concrete manner for students and are ideal training and outreach resources. The synergistic combination of technology and computation will have a transformative influence on broad topics across all of biology.