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International Conference on Mathematical Biology and

Annual Meeting of The Society for Mathematical Biology,

July 27-30, 2009

University of British Columbia, Vancouver

.

Program

Poster PS04B
Alain Leblanc
University of Rochester Medical Center
Title DEDiscover - Software for Modeling Biological System via Differential Equations
Abstract Mathematical modeling is playing an increasingly important role in biological systems research. Effective application of such models to biological systems requires the development of tools that are accessible to biologists, mathematical modelers, and statisticians, and that implement computationally efficient and scientifically valid algorithms. Implementation of these tools involves significant user-interface, algorithmic, and computational challenges.

Our team has created the DEDiscover software application as a user friendly and cross platform software tool that facilitates development, exploration, and application of systems of differential equation to biological systems. Within its clear workflow-based user interface, DEDiscover allows model development and exploration via simulation, for both ordinary and delay differential equation based models. Further, DEDiscover permits fitting these same models to observed data, providing confidence intervals in addition to the parameter estimates themselves. Further, DEDiscover allows storage and visualization of multiple sets of parameter values for each model, permitting visual comparison alternative parameter settings, including “pre-specified” verse “estimated” parameter values. For maximum flexibility, DEDiscover allows the user to select from a variety of differential equation solvers, numerical maximization algorithms, statistical estimation techniques, and confidence interval calculation methods. DEDiscover’s modular design makes it easy to add additional computational methods. DEDiscover also includes several popular models and example data for host-virus interaction of HIV and influenza, allowing users to immediately begin experimenting with these models.

In this poster, we describe the design and features of DEDiscover and demonstrate its application to influenza models and to observed data from influenza laboratory experiments. DEDiscover is funded by NIAID/NIH grant NO1 AI50020 “Center for Biodefense Immune Modeling”. Keywords: Biological System, ordinary differential equation (ODE), delay differential equation (DDE), model fitting, parameter estimation, simulation, Software.
CoauthorsHulin Wu, Gregory R. Warnes, Hongyu Miao, Alain Leblanc, Canglin Wu
LocationWoodward Lobby (Wednesday-Thursday)