Modelling and Scientific Computing

Content relating to the Modelling and Scientific Computing Research Group

Centre for Scientific Computing & Complex Systems Modelling (SCI-SYM)

Sci-Sym Logo The Centre for Scientific Computing & Complex Systems Modelling (SCI-SYM) is a centre of excellence for researchers working in high performance computing (HPC) applied to computational and mathematical models for complex systems in engineering, natural and applied sciences. It has been created in 2007.

Sci-Sym as University Designated Reseach Centre (UDRC).

Scientific Computing and Complex Systems explores models of the natural and artificial world, through high performance computer solutions of problems, which, due to their complexity, are intractable by conventional methods such as experimental, mathematical or semi-analytical methods alone. Complex systems arise in a variety of fields, e.g. physics, biology, chemistry, eco- and other hybrid sciences, finance, socio-economic phenomena, and others and are truly interdisciplinary. In some cases, a formal model may be proposed and investigated; in others large amounts of data may be mined and empirically analysed or computational models may be designed and tested against available data.

URL: http://sci-sym.dcu.ie/

Contacts: Prof. Heather Ruskin & Dr. Martin Crane

  • Login to post comments
  • 1588 reads

Example Research Projects

Example Research Project 1: Drug Dissolution Modelling

The origins of this project lie in an EU FP4-funded project in collaboration with TCD and Elan
Corporation to model drug dissolution in vitro. This work was continued, funded under the
Biocomputing Strand of the National Institute for Cellular Biotechnology under PRTLI 3, to demonstrate
the application of probabilistic and semi-analytical methods to in vitro drug dissolution for a wider
variety of drug delivery devices and conditions. Further funding has been secured to extend the model
to the design of Therapeutic Implants. DCU’s role is to simulate dissolution and cellular ingress in the
implant, with resulting changes in implant mechanical properties, offering possibilities for micro level
targeted treatment. With the introduction of Bayesian Inference, direct and inverse Monte Carlo and
other probabilistic numerical methods, we believe that the results show enormous potential for the
simulation of in vivo targeted drug delivery simulation, a ‘holy grail’ of drug development and
something that would be of potentially huge potential to the Pharmaceutical Industry.

Example Research Project 2: Immune Response Modelling

The aim of this project on modelling immune response to viral invasion, specifically Human Acquired
Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome (associated with HIV infection), is to explore the population dynamics
for different cell types, based on what is understood or conjectured about cellular mechanisms. Intraand
inter-cellular interactions are investigated in detail, to explore cell survival characteristics and to
quantify the influence of additional cell types on disease progression. The viability of adapting some
of these ideas to modelling features of other immuno-suppressive disorders is also the subject of
exploration. At present there are three project strands in Immune Response Modelling:

  • Individual Variation in HIV
  • Mathematical Models in HIV
  • Cell-level Models of HIV

(All of which are supported by IRCSET EMBARK Scholarships)

  • Login to post comments
  • 1165 reads

Modelling & Scientific Computing Research Group

Modelling and Scientific Computing (Modsci) is a highly-active interdisciplinary research group comprising some 25 full-time researchers (plus associates and student interns) with wide-ranging mathematical, statistical and computational modelling expertise. The Group has extensive external collaborations, which include RCSI, TCD, DIT, ITT, WIT, LM Ericsson and SUN, as well as academic partners in Europe, US and China. The over-arching focus of the group is on computational models and methods in exploring the natural and artificial world through solutions to problems, which, because of their complexity, are intractable by conventional methods. Complex systems arise in many fields, e.g. physics, biology, chemistry, finance, socio-economic phenomena, eco-and other hybrid sciences, to name just a few.

Recently, members of the group, together with colleagues in Maths, Electronic Engineering, Mechanical and Mechanical Engineering and Biotechnology, have been recognised as a University Designated Research Centre (UDRC), led by the School of Computing, under the title of Centre for Scientific Computing & Complex Systems Modelling (SCI-SYM).

Major sub-groups in ModSci. at the current time include:

  • Biocomputation (with research on Bio-systems modelling, Bioinformatics, Biometrics, Models of disease, Bio-diversity and AI - for bio and artificial systems and Pattern Recognition);
  • Financial and Socioeconomic Modelling (including projects in Econophysics, statistics of Accounting, and multivariate techniques in Finance);
  • Substantive sub-group in Environmental Modelling (including expertise in Wind and Wave Energy
    and Pollution Modelling).

 

Staff Members: Dr. Martin Crane Dr. Alistair Sutherland
[Linked to Research Profile] Prof. Heather Ruskin Mr. Ray Walshe
  Dr. W. G. Tuohey  

Affiliated Centres:

sci-sym research group logo   Centre for Scientific Computing & Complex Systems Modelling (SCI-SYM)
http://sci-sym.dcu.ie
ICHEC logo   Large-scale projects: currently running on ICHEC systems
http://www.ichec.ie

 

For all the latest information regarding the Modelling & Scientific Computing group, please visit their website below:

msc research group logo

  • Login to post comments
  • 3391 reads
Syndicate content