BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:Hybrid cellular Potts modeling of cell-extracellular matrix intera ctions driving cell shape\, cell migration and collective cell behavior - Roeland Merks (Universiteit Leiden) DTSTART:20230713T130000Z DTEND:20230713T140000Z UID:TALK203140@talks.cam.ac.uk DESCRIPTION:To form the patterns and behaviors that we observe in multicel lular development\, cells must carefully coordinate their behavior through biophysical and biochemical cues. Numerical modeling and theory are essen tial for analyzing the mechanism of such coordinated\, collective cell beh avior. To do so\, single-cell models must be sufficiently detailed so they correctly capture essential aspects of individual cells and do not oversi mplify. At the same time\, the models must be sufficiently simple and comp utationally efficient so general principles can be understood and the mode ls can be upscaled to multicellular systems. My team analyzes single cell behavior and multicellular development using a combination of mathematical \, computational and experimental approaches. \;Our central tool is th e cellular Potts model (CPM)\, a widely-used\, lattice-based framework for modeling cell behavior. We typically couple the CPM with simulation model s of the cellular microenvironment and relevant intracellular dynamics\, a technique known as hybrid CPMs. \;I will present a series of our rece nt hybrid CPMs for modeling individual cell behavior\, and show how these can be used to study the coordinated cell behavior that is seen in biologi cal development. I will first discuss a series of models used to analyze o bservations such as anomalous cell migration patterns of immune cells\, th e effect of extracellular matrix stiffness on cell shape\, cellular force transduction in fibrous ECMs\, and models of anisotropic force generation. I will then discuss how insights from single cell models translate to und erstanding of multicellular development. In our ongoing work\, we are deve loping strategies for experimental falsification and iterative correction of multicellular models of angiogenesis. Recent versions of our cell-ECM i nteraction models focus on how our descriptions of focal adhesions\, the m echanosensitive &lsquo\;feet&rsquo\; of cells by which they hold on the ex tracellular matrix\, must be improved to analyze mechanical cell-ECM inter actions. Also \;we invest in computational improvements to advance tow ards more detailed \;multicellular models. Altogether\, I will present the use of cell-based modeling \;in analyzing how local cell-microenv ironment interactions coordinate cell \;behavior during multicellular patterning. LOCATION:Seminar Room 2\, Newton Institute END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR