Complex Emergent Behaviors Arising from Simple Mechanically-Mediated Cell-Matrix Interactions

该奖项的研究目标是开发、验证和利用细胞-基质相互作用的计算机模型。细胞-基质相互作用是包括生长、发育、细胞迁移、肿瘤转移、伤口愈合和组织再生在内的许多重要生物学过程的重要组成部分。先前的细胞-基质相互作用模型未能捕捉到这些相互作用的动态本质，而只能给出实验揭示的不断变化过程的静态快照。基于agent的模型是一种非常适合于动态过程的仿真技术。该模型将根据包括细胞和细胞外基质纤维的形状和位置的实验数据进行验证。一旦得到验证，该模型就可以用来深入了解无法通过实验直接探索的过程。如果成功，这些研究将显著增加该领域对细胞-基质相互作用的理解，包括基本的潜在生物力学规则，这些规则共同作用，产生了观察到的生物行为。旨在完成科学目标的工作将为高中生、本科生和研究生提供广泛的实验室、项目和讲座学习机会的基础。这项工作的一个重要组成部分将是将基于主体的建模与俄亥俄州超级计算中心正在进行的高中生暑期项目结合起来，并与俄亥俄州立大学非裔美国人和非洲研究社区推广中心的数学和科学项目开展新的合作。

The research objective of this award is to develop, validate, and utilize a computer model of cell-matrix interactions. The cell-matrix interactions are an important component a number of important biological processes including growth, development, cell migration, tumor metastasis, wound healing and tissue regeneration. Previous models of cell-matrix interactions have failed to capture the dynamic nature of these interactions and have only given static snapshots of what experiments reveal to be a constantly changing process. Agent-based models, a simulation technique well suited for dynamic processes, will be employed. The model will be validated against experimental data consisting of the shape and position of cells and extracellular matrix fibers. Once validated, the model can be used to gain insight into processes that cannot be explored directly using experiments. If successful, these studies would add significantly to the field's understanding of cell-matrix interactions, including the basic underlying biomechanical rules that work together to give rise to the observed biological behaviors. The work directed towards the completion of the scientific aims will provide the basis for extensive laboratory, project and lecture-based learning opportunities for high school, undergraduate and graduate students. An important component of such work will be incorporating agent-based modeling ongoing work with the Ohio Supercomputing Centers summer program for high school students and initiating a new collaboration with the Math and Science Program at The Ohio State University's African American and African Studies Community Extension Center.