The Biology-Combinatorics Interface: Addressing New Challenges in Computational Biology (08w5069)

Organizers

(University of New Brunswick)

(University of British Columbia)

(Universtiy of California, San Francisco)

(University of Texas at Austin)

(University of British Columbia)

(Simon Fraser University)

Description

Systems biologists are interested in models at various levels, from the microscopic (genes, protein structures, and signaling pathways) to the macroscopic (metabolic and genetic circuits, cells, organs, organisms, and populations). Mathematics is poised to help to understand emergent large-scale properties from properties of smaller subsystems. This workshop to take place at the Banff International Research Station from July 6th to 11th, 2008 will bring together biologists with discrete mathematicians to understand the emerging challenges in systems biology. Participants will work on specific problems drawn from such areas as how proteins and RNA fold and interact, capacity of biomolecular compounds to mutate, models of entire cells, and the possibility of develioping nano-structures using biomolecular molecules.


The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí­a (CONACYT).