Research
Research Overview
SBI’s research objectives are to:
1. Identify the design principles of biochemical networks by
- Rational and systematic identification of the topology and dynamic behaviour of biochemical networks
- Systematic understanding and predictive simulation of how biochemical networks specify biological decisions
- Rational identification of points for interference & identification of drug targets
2. Make predictions about behaviour and effect of perturbation
- Inform and streamline experimental design
- Apply rational design to synthetic biology
3. Apply this knowledge for the rational manipulation of adult stem cells and other biological systems
- Rational manipulation of the responses of biochemical networks, e.g. response to drugs, hormones, growth factors and environmental stresses.
- Rational manipulation of biological behaviour such as drug resistance of cancer cells, drug toxicity and side effects.
- “Programmable” stem cells, i.e. enhancing stem cell therapy by improving critical traits of stem cells that enable them to reach the lesion quicker and differentiate more efficiently.
Despite the vast increase in knowledge of biochemical processes, our ability to interpret and predict the biological effects of these processes is often defeated by the combinatorial complexity of biological systems. Mathematical description of the processes and their relationships holds the promise of overcoming this limitation by developing coherent quantitative models that can be rigorously analysed and used to make predictions about the behaviour of the system.
Systems Biology Ireland uses dynamical systems analysis and mathematical modelling to generate predictive models and guide the generation of data suitable for iterative mathematical modelling. The biological focus is on regulatory signalling pathways and transcriptional networks that control commitment and cell fate decisions in cells.
Stem cells are important in a broad range of biological processes including organ formation, tissue repair and cancer. They have emerged as therapies for the most intractable of human diseases. Applying systems biology approaches to stem cell biology provides an opportunity to understand the complex regulatory circuits that influence cell commitment, differentiation and cross-talk between transplanted cells and the host. A clear understanding of how stem cells are programmed and respond to the host environment will inform future developments in stem cell therapy including the designed re-programming of stem cells for particular therapeutic applications.