Final Activity Report Summary - M3CS-TU TH (Modeling, mathematical methods and computer simulation of tumour growth and therapy)
The activities of the research training network was organised from the very beginning into six tasks, each one focusing on the specific aspects of the research and related training:
- Mathematical modelling and computer simulation at the cellular and sub-cellular scales.
- Mathematical modelling and computer simulation at the macroscopic scale.
- Mathematical modelling and computer simulation for cancer therapy.
- Qualitative analysis and multiscale methods.
- Experimental aspects and validation.
- High-performance algorithms for tumour simulations.
The activities related to the tasks produced more than 300 publications in refereed journals, one over five deriving from the activity of the young researchers employed by the Research Training Network and one over six from joint collaborations.
Ten thematic volumes were published related to microscopic modelling, macroscopic modelling and computational aspect, with the discussion of some therapeutical actions, multiscale modelling and qualitative aspects. In addition, five special issues of well known scientific journal were organised and devoted in particular to the research activity of the young researchers. Many articles received honours and awards by ranking agencies and the software PhasTrans received a positive decision for development and commercialisation of a high-technology incubator.
Apart from the above list of numbers, the activities of the network had the merit to bring a topic to the attention of the researchers, especially the young researchers through the organisation of summer schools and thematic workshops. These periodic appointments acted as a catalyser stimulating the entire scientific community. In fact, if one compares the number of papers published on scientific journals on cancer modelling before and after the establishment of the research training networks, it is possible to realise that they more than triplicate. This result was not achieved by the participant in the network alone but was induced by their activities.
Coherently with what just stated, looking at the number of presentations on cancer modelling and related issues in the main conferences held in Europe and worldwide it can be seen that the number of talks dramatically increased (more than four times with respect to ten years ago). More than two thirds of them are held by European scientists and both the amount and the rate of increase of presentations are bigger in European conferences. In fact, it is recognised worldwide that through the activity of the networks Europe achieved a leading role on the subject and actually other countries would like to import this type of experience and organisations.
The other merit of the research training network was to break the barrier with other neighbouring research fields, building a multidisciplinary community. The relations and collaborations with the biomedical world are now strong and consolidated.
From the scientific viewpoint one of the biggest advances in research is the acquired ability to link mathematical modelling and scientific computing with real bio-medical data.
Some of the mathematical framework developed are now able to insert measurements obtained at the sub-cellular and cellular scale not only in mathematical models working at the pertinent scale, but also to upscale some of them in order to be used by models working at the tissue level. Finally, a bridge between mathematical models dealing with phenomena occurring at the cellular scale and those dealing with macroscopic behaviours was obtained.
- Mathematical modelling and computer simulation at the cellular and sub-cellular scales.
- Mathematical modelling and computer simulation at the macroscopic scale.
- Mathematical modelling and computer simulation for cancer therapy.
- Qualitative analysis and multiscale methods.
- Experimental aspects and validation.
- High-performance algorithms for tumour simulations.
The activities related to the tasks produced more than 300 publications in refereed journals, one over five deriving from the activity of the young researchers employed by the Research Training Network and one over six from joint collaborations.
Ten thematic volumes were published related to microscopic modelling, macroscopic modelling and computational aspect, with the discussion of some therapeutical actions, multiscale modelling and qualitative aspects. In addition, five special issues of well known scientific journal were organised and devoted in particular to the research activity of the young researchers. Many articles received honours and awards by ranking agencies and the software PhasTrans received a positive decision for development and commercialisation of a high-technology incubator.
Apart from the above list of numbers, the activities of the network had the merit to bring a topic to the attention of the researchers, especially the young researchers through the organisation of summer schools and thematic workshops. These periodic appointments acted as a catalyser stimulating the entire scientific community. In fact, if one compares the number of papers published on scientific journals on cancer modelling before and after the establishment of the research training networks, it is possible to realise that they more than triplicate. This result was not achieved by the participant in the network alone but was induced by their activities.
Coherently with what just stated, looking at the number of presentations on cancer modelling and related issues in the main conferences held in Europe and worldwide it can be seen that the number of talks dramatically increased (more than four times with respect to ten years ago). More than two thirds of them are held by European scientists and both the amount and the rate of increase of presentations are bigger in European conferences. In fact, it is recognised worldwide that through the activity of the networks Europe achieved a leading role on the subject and actually other countries would like to import this type of experience and organisations.
The other merit of the research training network was to break the barrier with other neighbouring research fields, building a multidisciplinary community. The relations and collaborations with the biomedical world are now strong and consolidated.
From the scientific viewpoint one of the biggest advances in research is the acquired ability to link mathematical modelling and scientific computing with real bio-medical data.
Some of the mathematical framework developed are now able to insert measurements obtained at the sub-cellular and cellular scale not only in mathematical models working at the pertinent scale, but also to upscale some of them in order to be used by models working at the tissue level. Finally, a bridge between mathematical models dealing with phenomena occurring at the cellular scale and those dealing with macroscopic behaviours was obtained.