Research

Research Overview

Biological Systems Modeling

Biological systems rely on the interplay of complex processes spanning atomic and planetary scales that operate over time scales ranging from nanoseconds to millennia. Biological systems modeling draws from diverse mathematical frameworks, performance metrics, and input data types to produce models that align with data, offer valuable insights, and guide new areas of investigation. Active investigations within Computational and Systems Biology (CSB) research include gene birth on evolutionary time scales, protein structure dynamics and immune cell interactions.

Systems Genetics

We now have the genetic blueprints for humans and a staggering number of other species but are confronted with a major frustration: while genomes may be the encyclopedias of life, they are so difficult to decipher that they may as well have been written in an alien language. Systems genetics is a blend of large-scale experimental and computational approaches aimed at mapping the connections between genetic changes and traits (including disease) and translating genomes into mechanistic insights and actionable understanding (e.g., precision therapy).

Molecular Mechanism and Therapeutics

The essential processes of life are driven by an intricate and fast-paced interplay of proteins and other biological macromolecules. Better understanding of the molecular forces driving their shapes, interactions and dynamics of these components is enabling computational and systems pharmacology approaches to discover therapeutics that modulate macromolecular systems.

Publications

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Connected Institutes and Centers

• Hillman Cancer Center: UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Shadyside is the flagship treatment and research facility of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center network. Home to the state-of-the-art clinical services and internationally recognized research of UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, the Shadyside location provides specialized diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and care for patients and their families.
• Drug Discovery Institute: Optimizing the discovery and development of new molecular entities through collaborations between faculty, academic centers, corporations and government agencies, together with innovations focused on Quantitative Systems Pharmacology (QSP).
• Pittsburgh Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine: The mission of the Center is to advance the fields of evolutionary biology and medicine by catalyzing research at their interface. The center serves to cultivate educational and scientific collaborations between evolutionary biologists and biomedical researchers.
• Center for Systems Immunology: The Center for Systems Immunology (CSI) nurtures research and training at the interface of immunology, computational biology and biological engineering. The center is promoting interdisciplinary research to build systems-level knowledge of immune system development and function, pathogen responses and immune-mediated diseases. Additionally, it seeks to apply that knowledge to enhance vaccine responses and design new therapies for immune-related disorders.