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: András Czirók; ; 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: András Czirók 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: András Czirók 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: Iñaki 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 ----- Roeland M. H. Merks Netherlands Institute for Systems Biology (NISB) and Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica (CWI) Science Park 123, 1098 XG Amsterdam, The Netherlands Mailing address: P.O. Box 94079, 1090 GB Amsterdam CWI Office Room M246 Roeland.Merks@sysbio.nl / Roeland.Merks@cwi.nl http://www.cwi.nl/~merks Phone +31 20 592 4117 Fax +31 20 592 4199