Sponsors
Scientific Background
1. Cancer cell metabolism
It is becoming slowly apparent that the metabolic modulation of therapeutic effects is a very significant and, by and large, hidden factor that impacts treatment efficacy and may underlie patient-to-patient variability in treatment response to radiation, antiangiogenic and cytotoxic therapies. At the workshop, recent progress will be discussed by experts from both the mathematical modeling and medical science communities. Methods and models involving continuum mechanics, cellular automata and coupling of both through multiscale modeling will also be discussed.
2. Biofilms
Bacterial biofilms have been characterized as spatially structured populations on immersed interfaces in an aqueous environment. On the mesoscale level, mathematical biofilm models must incorporate population and resource dynamics as well as transport of growth/process controlling substrates (nutrients, antibiotics) in the surrounding aqueous phase. Recent progress in developing multi-scale models for biofilms will be discussed at the workshop. Brainstorm sessions addressing the challenges in industrial applications and software development will be an integral part of the workshop.
3. Medical Imaging
To ensure a more reliable and accurate diagnosis, computer-aided detection and diagnosis(CADx) systems can quickly comb through large amounts of data, extract clinically relevant features, identify and classify abnormal tissues from medical images, and provide radiologists with "a second opinion" before reaching a final conclusion. Recent progress in the mathematical theories and techniques for a number of important classes of CAD applications from biomedical and industrial problems will be discussed. Brainstorm sessions for developing new methods that cope with actual data, presenting regular "non-standard characteristics", will be held during the workshop.
4. Mathematical Neuroscience
Brain rhythms have been shown to have a causal role in information processing. In particular, theta and theta/gamma rhythms that occur in many brain regions, including the hippocampus, are associated with memory processing (as affected by sensory input). Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that these rhythms change in particular ways during neurological diseases.
At this workshop, mathematical models that are clearly linked to experimental data and contexts will be presented. Another aspect of the brain dynamics under abnormal conditions, such as hypoxia and anoxia, will also be discussed so that we can work towards an understanding of the underlying mechanisms in normal and diseased states as reflected in population rhythmic activities.
5. Disease modeling and public policy
A continuing challenge of all governments is the determination of the public health funding and resources needed to achieve maximum disease prevention and healthcare protection for general and specific populations. In this workshop, recent progress on model development and mathematical analysis in this field will be discussed in general. Specific issues related to particular type of diseases as well as public policy will also be discussed.
Schedule and Abstracts
The general schedule and abstracts can be viewed on this link.
