Modeling Angiogenesis: Joining Cells, Maths and Computers

Lorentz Center, Leiden, the Netherlands, 4th-8th October

Registration at:
http://www.lorentzcenter.nl/lc/web/2010/407/info.php3?wsid=407

Scientific organizers:
R.M.H. Merks  (NISB / CWI, Netherlands)
E. Giraudo (IRCC Torino, Italy)
P. Koolwijk (VU University Medical Center, Netherlands)
B. Ribba (INRIA Grenoble, France)

The outgrowth of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, called
angiogenesis, is a crucial step in myriad physiological and pathological
mechanisms. Unfortunately, the complicated causes and effects of
angiogenesis make it very difficult to control. Computational models and
simulations help unravel both the basic mechanisms of angiogenesis and can
help identify the steps in the mechanisms most amenable to intervention.

A wide range of mathematical and computational models range from is
currently available. Single cell-based models predict how vascular-like
patterns follow from the behaviors and interactions of individual
endothelial cells. Many discrete models describe the branching conditions
of blood vessels, and predict the morphology of vascular trees near
tumors. Continuum models often focus at the tissue level, and describe
densities of blood vessels rather than individual vascular structures.

Despite the biological insights these mathematical models have produced,
modeling rarely finds application in experimental angiogenesis research
yet. Why is that? One reason is a different focus:  experimental and
pharmaceutical research necessarily focus on the molecular level, whereas
most angiogenesis models take single interacting endothelial cells or
vessel branches as the smallest units of their models.  Another reason is
the lack of predictive, quantitative models and the required quantitative
experimental data to feed such models. We will need models that bridge
organizational scales, by showing how molecular intervention modifies the
behavior of endothelial cells and, consequently, changes the dynamics of
angiogenesis.

Our workshop will host both experimental researchers and computational
models working in vascular biology, endothelial cell biology,
angiogenesis, and pharmaceutics. We will a) identify the requirements for
computational models to make a true impact in basic angiogenesis research,
tissue engineering and drug innovation, b) inventarize pre-existing and
missing components of such a model, and c) discuss how we can couple such
components.


Monday, 4th October, State of the art of angiogenesis research

09.00 – 10:00  Registration and coffee
10:00 – 10:15  Welcome by Lorentz Center and the organizers
10:15 – 11:15  Lecture: Thomas Sato; Discussant: James Glazier
11:15 – 12:15 Discussion: Arjan Griffioen and Roeland Merks Available in
vitro and in silico models
12:15 – 13:30  Lunch and informal discussions
13:30 – 14:30  Lecture: Aleksander Popel; ; Discussant:  Thomas Sato
14:30 – 15:30  Poster flash presentations
15:30 – 16:00  Coffee break
16:00 – 17:00  Lecture: Andrแs Czir๓k; ; Discussant:  Aleksander Popel
17:00 – 19:00  Wine and Cheese party with poster session


Tuesday, 5th October, Characterizing and modeling endothelial cell behavior

09:30 – 10:30  Lecture: Andrea Gamba; Discussant:  Cynthia Reinhart-King
10:30 – 11:00  Coffee break
11:00 – 12:00 Lecture: Cynthia Reinhart-King;  Discussant:  Andrea Gamba
12:00 – 13:30  Lunch and informal discussions
13:30 – 16:00  Tutorial: Andrแs Czir๓k Extracting and analyzing
quantitative information for time-lapse microscopy, aimed at modelers
16:00 Departure by conference bus to the boat
16:30 – 20:30 Boat trip on Kaag Lakes and Conference Diner


Wednesday, 6th October, Integrating cell behavior to explain angiogenesis

09:30 – 10:30  Lecture: James Glazier; Discussant:  Peter Friedl
10:30 – 11:00  Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00  Lecture: Peter Friedl; Discussant:  Andrแs Czir๓k
12:00 – 13:30  Lunch and informal discussions
13:30 – 14:30  Lecture: Federico Bussolino; Discussant: Mats Karlsson
14:30 – 16:00  Tutorial: Systems Biology Toolbox 2 / SBPOP by Henning
Schmidt, Novartis Pharma, Basel
16:00 – 16:30  Coffee Break
16:30 – 17:30  Keynote lecture: Peter Carmeliet


Thursday, 7th October: Applications to drug development

09:30 – 10:30  Lecture: Zvia Agur; Discussant:  Pascal Girard
10:30 – 11:00  Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00  Discussion: Benjamin Ribba, INRIA, France; Discussant: 
I๑aki Troconiz Preclinical tumor growth models and requirements for
angiogenesis models in drug development
12:00 – 13:30  Lunch and informal discussions
13:30 – 16:00  Tutorial: Maciej Swat Cell-based angiogenesis modeling with
CompuCell3D, aimed at experimental biologists
16:00 – 16:30  Coffee break
16:30 – 17:30  Lecture: Paolo Magni; Discussant:  Enrico Giraudo


Friday, 8th October: Applications to tissue engineering

09:30 – 10:30  Lecture: Victor van Hinsbergh;  Discussant:  Roeland Merks
10:30 – 11:00  Coffee Break
11:00 – 12:00  Lecture: Hans Van Oosterwyck; Discussant:  Pieter Koolwijk
12:00 – 13:30  Lunch and informal discussions
13:30 – 14:30  Lecture: Marco Harmsen; ; Discussant:  Hans van Oosterwyck
14:30 – 15:00  Coffee break
15:00 – 16:00  Discussion: Hans Van Oosterwyck; ; Discussant:  Victor van
Hinsbergh Requirements for a computational angiogenesis model in tissue
engineering
16:00 – 17:00  Wrap up: Pieter Koolwijk and Roeland Merks, Summary of
findings