Applications are closed
for this workshop

Tumor-immune dynamics

January 5 to January 9, 2015

at the

American Institute of Mathematics, San Jose, California

organized by

Amina Eladdadi, Peter Kim, Dann Mallet, and Chae-Ok Yun

This workshop, sponsored by AIM and the NSF, will be devoted to mathematical and computational modeling of tumor-immune dynamics. Recent research in cancer immunology and immunotherapy strongly suggests that the immune system plays a fundamental role in combating tumors, and hence could be used as a vehicle to prevent or cure cancer. However, fundamental questions concerning complex interactions between the immune system and tumors remain. For example, several current research directions seek to investigate how components of the immune system synergize to limit cancer development, how tumors escape immune recognition and control, and why some immunotherapies can inhibit the progression of certain tumors while stimulating the growth of others. The multidimensional, nonlinear nature of these interactions will require cross-disciplinary collaboration and approaches to understand key interactions, and capture more realistic dynamics of the essential biology.

The main topics for the workshop are:

  • Exploring the use of partial differential equations and/or agent-based models in conjunction with or as alternatives to ordinary differential equations when developing tumor-immune models,
  • Identifying key questions in cancer immunology and immunotherapy that are suitable and timely for mathematical modeling,
  • Assessing modeling approaches and methods that are appropriate to address these biological and medical questions,
  • Determining what types of experimental studies and can inform model development, Mathematical models that are informed by the current state-of-the-art in cancer immune research will be intentionally directed toward important questions and will provide a platform for ongoing and increasing dialogue between mathematicians, biological scientists, and clinicians.

The workshop will differ from typical conferences in some regards. Participants will be invited to suggest open problems and questions before the workshop begins, and these will be posted on the workshop website. These include specific problems on which there is hope of making some progress during the workshop, as well as more ambitious problems which may influence the future activity of the field. Lectures at the workshop will be focused on familiarizing the participants with the background material leading up to specific problems, and the schedule will include discussion and parallel working sessions.

The deadline to apply for support to participate in this workshop has passed.

For more information email workshops@aimath.org


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