New course in biophysical modeling and simulation of cellular transport

The Department of Physiology & Biophysics in the School of Medicine at CWRU, beginning in the Spring 2024, will offer a new graduate course, PHOL 429: Biophysical modeling and simulation of cellular transport.

This course will provide hands-on experience in applying computational modeling to the neural regulation of digestive and renal epithelia through (1) a lecture-based introductory module to be followed by (2) a mentored research program (i.e., modeling projects). No prior modeling knowledge is required. The modeling projects will make use of templates that students will personalize for particular functional elements of the epithelial cells, under the guidance of mentoring faculty and through in class discussion and tutorials. At the end of the project, students will submit their work to a public repository, and have the opportunity to publish the model.

The modeling approach and computational tools that the students will learn are not limited to epithelial transport. Rather, they have broader applications and can be used to model and simulate a variety of biological processes (e.g., metabolic and signaling pathways).

This course is part of the recently funded Research Education Program (R25) “FAIR DOs: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable Development of Open Simulations” by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK).

Get more information about the R25 program and view more course details.