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-基质相互作用是许多重要生物过程的重要组成部分，包括生长、发育、细胞迁移、肿瘤转移、伤口愈合和组织再生。以前的细胞-基质相互作用模型未能捕捉到这些相互作用的动态性质，并且仅给出了实验揭示的不断变化的过程的静态快照。将采用基于代理的模型，这是一种非常适合动态过程的模拟技术。该模型将根据由细胞和细胞外基质纤维的形状和位置组成的实验数据进行验证。一旦经过验证，该模型可用于深入了解无法通过实验直接探索的过程。 如果成功，这些研究将显着增加该领域对细胞-基质相互作用的理解，包括共同作用产生观察到的生物行为的基本生物力学规则。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、项目和基于讲座的学习机会奠定基础。此类工作的一个重要组成部分是将基于代理的建模正在进行的工作与俄亥俄州超级计算中心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启动新的合作。

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.