Multi-scale modelling in computational biomedicine

Abstract

The inherent complexity of biomedical systems is well recognized; they are multi-scale, multi-science systems, bridging a wide range of temporal and spatial scales. This article reviews the currently emerging field of multi-scale modelling in computational biomedicine. Many exciting multi-scale models exist or are under development. However, an underpinning multi-scale modelling methodology seems to be missing. We propose a direction that complements the classic dynamical systems approach and introduce two distinct case studies, transmission of resistance in human immunodeficiency virus spreading and in-stent restenosis in coronary artery disease.

Multiscale modelling of palisade formation in gliobastoma multiforme

“…These considerations allow to represent the coupled multiscale system in the scale-separation map (see, e.g., [31]) drawn in Figure 2. Our computational approach to model glioblastoma is based on the idea of Complex Automata (CxA) (see, e.g., [31,32,33]), in which a multiscale process is described in terms of single scale models interacting across the scales through appropriate multiscale coupling conditions. In particular, we consider two single scale models (Figure 2), an individual based model for the cells (described in detail in Section 2.1), considered as viscoelastic spheres interacting with each other through mechanical forces and cell-cell signaling, and with the surrounding tissue, and a finite element model for the oxygen diffusion into the healthy and tumour tissues (Section 2.2).…”

Multiscale modelling and simulation: a position paper

“…Are scales correlated? In many examples from physics or engineering, the spatial and temporal scales seem to be correlated (micro-meso-macro, both in time and space), but when shifting focus to the life sciences and biomedical systems this is not necessarily always the case [20]. Deeper reflections and analysis of such questions are required.…”

Composing, execution and sharing of multiscale applications

“…Multiscale applications are used in various fields of science such as biomedicine [1], material science [2] or astrophysics [3]. In this paper we focus on multiscale applications that can be described as a set of connected single-scale modules, i.e.…”