Our research group works on constructing and refining computational models to describe genetic, epigenetic and metabolic networks. Such systems biology models can, for example, describe how whole populations interact with their environment, how individual cells choose to differentiate into different cell types, or how multicellular systems form patterns and grow new organs in two or three dimensions.

This interdisciplinary research is conducted in close collaboration with researchers in medicine and biology. Together we develop new models and methods for new types of experiments and data. The regulation of stem cells is an important area; for example, we study how immune system cells decide to mature or how skin cells can be directly reprogrammed into neurons or stem cells. Biological applications include the study of decomposition processes in soil where fungi interact with organic molecules and mineral particles. Our group also has connections to plant biology through the Sainsbury Laboratory at the University of Cambridge.

The group is part of COSHE, the Computational Science for Health and Environment theme at CEC.