Mathematical modelling in biology – adapting to a changing landscape

This month we are joined by Helen Byrne, Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Oxford, who will be presenting on mathematical modelling in biology – adapting to a changing landscape.

As mathematical biology matures as a research discipline and becomes more popular as a subject of study for mathematics undergraduates, it is natural to question how such research is carried out, by whom and with what motivation. Should it be the preserve of mathematicians, interested in proving theorems? Or the preserve of biologists and clinicians, seeking to fit phenomenological models to the data that they generate? While both approaches have made (and continue to make) significant contributions to the field of mathematical biology, the benefits of an alternative strategy, involving close collaboration between theoreticians and experimentalists, is now recognised by both communities. In this talk, we will take a whistle-stop tour of mathematical biology, highlighting the different approaches to mathematical modelling and the insights that they have generated. We will also look to the future, and consider how the field should adapt in a way that is meaningful for both bio-medical applications and mathematics.

Speaker bio: Helen Byrne is a Professor of Mathematical Biology at the University of Oxford, with over 25 years’ experience of developing mathematical models of biomedical systems. She has played a significant role in defining the foundations for mathematical oncology, publishing pioneering work on multiscale and multiphase models of tumour growth and angiogenesis. She was awarded an Advanced Research Fellowship by the UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (2000-2006) and the Society of Mathematical Biology’s Leah Edelstein-Keshet prize (2019), became an SMB Fellow in 2020, and will receive an honorary doctorate from Chalmers University in Sweden next month (June 2024), in recognition of her contributions to mathematical biology. She now holds a joint appointment between the University of Oxford’s Mathematical Institute and the Oxford Branch of the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research.

Centre for the Physical Science of Life Seminar Series

The Centre for the Physical Science of Life Seminar Series is the flagship seminar series for King’s College London’s Centre for the Physical Science of Life, connecting across disciplines and building collaborations between physical and life scientists to identify and solve the most fundamental riddles underpinning life.

Every month, we host a speaker to discuss a new research idea and seek contributions from audience members during the Q&A.

About us

The Centre for the Physical Science of Life realises the transformative power of physical science in advancing understanding of the fundamental mechanisms underlying living systems across scales. The goal of our unique physical science centre is to achieve a whole-scale quantitative understanding of life using physical and mathematical principles.

Based in the Faculty of Natural, Mathematical and Engineering Sciences (NMES), the Centre coalesces expertise across our Faculty in creative fusions of natural, mathematical and engineering sciences, our ambition is to solve the fundamental challenge of modern biology; bridging the gap between current biomolecular and systems level descriptions of biological phenomena.

Photography and videography: There might be photography and videography on the day. If you do not wish to appear in any photographs or videos, please approach our registration team on the day of the event or email psol@kcl.ac.uk before the event. Photographs and videos taken may feature in our publications or on the King’s website and social media channels. All personal data will be processed in accordance with King’s privacy policy available on request or at www.kcl.ac.uk/terms/privacy.

Privacy notice: We collect and process your personal information to help us manage and run the event. In accordance with the King’s College London Data Retention Schedule, we will keep your information until the completion of the event. To find out more about how the university deals with your personal information, including your rights, please see the university’s core privacy notice. Your personal information will be transferred to the United States via Eventbrite. Please read the article where you can find out more on how Eventbrite protects your data.