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SUMMARY:Cybergenetics: Theory and Implementation of genetic control system
 s - Prof Mustafa Khammash\, ETH Zurich
DTSTART:20231114T140000Z
DTEND:20231114T150000Z
UID:TALK200791@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Rachel Fogg
DESCRIPTION:Abstract: Adaptation is a recurring theme in biology\, offerin
 g vital survival mechanisms in dynamic environments through precise regula
 tion of physiological variables. This talk dives into the intriguing conce
 pt of robust perfect adaptation (RPA)\, a phenomenon where a system mainta
 ins a specific variable at a setpoint despite persistent perturbations. Th
 e objective of this talk is to explore the fundamental problem of achievin
 g maximal RPA\, focusing on a designated output variable and its robustnes
 s to perturbations across almost all network parameters. I will elucidate 
 how RPA imposes critical structural constraints on underlying networks\, c
 haracterized by simple linear algebraic conditions. These conditions provi
 de insights into the diverse ways biomolecular integral feedback mechanism
 s can be realized. Building on these insights\, I will introduce a novel i
 nternal model principle (IMP) tailored for biomolecular networks\, akin to
  celebrated IMP in control theory. Throughout the presentation\, I will re
 late these theoretical developments to practical implementation of RPA-ach
 ieving controllers and their applications. Specifically\, I will discuss t
 he implementation of genetically engineered synthetic integral feedback co
 ntrollers within living cells and showcase their tunability and adaptation
  properties. Furthermore\, I will highlight the relevance of these genetic
  control systems in the context of cell-based therapies. \n\nBio:\nDr. Kha
 mmash is Professor of Control Theory and Systems Biology in the Department
  of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-​BSSE) at ETH-​Zurich. He re
 ceived his B.S. degree from Texas A & M University in 1986 and his Ph.D. f
 rom Rice University in 1990\, both in Electrical Engineering. In 1990\, he
  joined the Electrical Engineering Department at Iowa State University. Wh
 ile at Iowa State University\, he created the Dynamics and Control Program
  and led that control group until 2002\, when he became a member of the Me
 chanical Engineering faculty at the University of California\, Santa Barba
 ra. In Santa Barbara\, he served as Vice Chair of the Mechanical Engineeri
 ng Department from 2003 to 2006 and as the Director of the Center for Cont
 rol\, Dynamical Systems and Computation from 2005 to 2011. In 2011 Prof. K
 hammash moved with his group to Switzerland\, joining the Department of Bi
 osystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich. At ETH Zurich he served as
  Vice Chair of the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering from 2
 013 to 2015 and as the head of the Department of Biosystems Science and En
 gineering from 2015 to 2017.\n\nDr. Khammash works at the forefront of res
 earch in the areas of control theory\, systems biology\, and synthetic bio
 logy. His research aims to understand the role of dynamics\, feedback\, an
 d randomness in biology\, and to develop the tools needed to aid in this u
 nderstanding. Work in his lab focuses on the creation of novel computation
 al methods for the modeling\, simulation\, analysis\, and control of biolo
 gical networks\, with particular attention to stochastic systems. His grou
 p has successfully applied these methods to shed new light on various biol
 ogical systems. More recently\, Prof. Khammash's group has been pioneering
  the development of the field of Cybergenetics in synthetic biology\, wher
 e they have developed new foundational theory\, computational methods\, an
 d experimental tools for the real-​time control of the dynamic behavior 
 of living cells\, with applications to industrial biotechnology\, tissue e
 ngineering\, and medical therapy. 
LOCATION:Department of Engineering - LT2
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