The group of Heinrich Huber and Markus Rehm has established an experimental systems biology infrastructure and devised computational systems models and modeling tools that encompass the key components and reactions involved in apoptosis pathways. These models allow for a qualitative and quantitative assessment of the role of individual proteins during apoptosis and their combinations in apoptosis sensitivity and resistance. Several model of the group can be applied to study apoptosis impairment and relate this to clinical outcome in cancer therapy.
Modelling tools are developed on the basis of
- Ordinary/Partial Differential equations (ODE/PDE),
- Cellular Automata (CA),
- Decision Trees,
- Methods form control theory, and
- Tools using statistical inference.
Computational models are implemented in programming languages such as MATLAB, MATHEMATICA, C++, or R.
Several tools have been filed for European and US patents. These tools include
- Dose-Response Medicinal Outcome Model Predictor (DR_MOMP). A tool for evaluating dosage decisions in chemotherapies involving genotoxic stress
- APOPTO-CELL: A tool evaluating apoptosis impairment caused by de-regulation of protein expressions in the mitochondrial pathway subsequent to mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilisation.
- Systems Simulations for the personalisation of Anti-Cancer Treatments (SYS-ACT): Predicting apoptosis susceptibility using a novel approach of knowledge- and data-driven modelling.
- Automated Life-cell Imaging System for Signal-transduction Analyses (ALISSA): An intelligent microscopy system that allows studying signal transduction and that helps to acquire data in a high resolution.
For details on tools and their application, please see the Tools page.