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Mini-workshop: Microfluids (November 12-14, 2007)

Organizer: Andre Levchenko

Motivation: Mathematical biology has long attempted to capture qualitative and quantitative mechanisms underlying the functioning of biological systems in the form of equations and laws, which could ultimately facilitate conceptual understanding of biological complexity. However, the progress in mathematical biology and its predictive power has often been hampered by the mismatch between the precision of mathematical analysis and very approximate measurement of biological read-outs. If one resorts to metaphors, mathematical treatment often asks for statement of boundary and initial conditions, which are frequently either unknown or poorly controlled in biomedical investigations. Recently, developments in micro- and nano-technology occurring in the fields of electronics and material sciences, have created an opportunity to rectify this problems and allow for significantly more control in definition of the micro-environment of single cells and cell ensembles. As a result, the applications of microfludics in the analysis of live cells have sky-rocketed, creating fertile ground for renewed interest in tight integration of mathematical and experimental biology. This technology is likely to become a new staple of experimental labs interested in the behavior of cells and tissues, providing increasing promise for beginning and well established mathematical biologist.

Goals: This workshop is designed to introduce the community of mathematical biologists to the promise and recent developments in the microfluidic analysis of live cells and tissues. It is also aimed at allowing the experimentalists working in development of microfluidic applications to biological research to be exposed to the power of mathematical treatment in biology. Thus it is envisioned that the workshop, by way of examples of exciting and timely research, may provide a bridge between the communities and a platform for discussion of possible future interactions.