Section: Research Program

Tight Integration of In Silico and In Vivo Approaches

Bridging the gap between the complexity of biological systems and our capacity to model and predict systems behaviors is a central challenge in quantitative systems biology. We investigate using wet and dry experiments a few challenging biological questions that necessitate a tight integration between in vivo and in silico work. Key to the success of this line of research fundamentally guided by specific biological questions is the deployment of innovative modelling and analysis methods for the in silico studies.

Synthetic biology, or bioengineering, aims at designing and constructing in vivo biological systems that performs novel, useful tasks. This is achieved by reingeneering existing natural biological systems. While the construction of simple intracellular circuits has shown the feasibility of the approach, the design of larger, multicellular systems is a major open issue. In engineered tissues for example, the behavior results from the subtle interplay between intracellular processes (signal transduction, gene expression) and intercellular processes (contact inhibition, gradient of diffusible molecule). How should cells be genetically modified such that the desired behavior robustly emerges from cell interactions? In collaboration with Dirk Drasdo (EPI BANG), we develop abstraction methods for multiscale systems to make the design and optimization of such systems computationally tractable and investigate the mammalian tissue homeostasis problem from a bioengineering point of view. Then, in collaboration with the Weiss lab (MIT), we construct and test in vitro the proposed designs in actively-growing mammalian cells.

The rational design of synthetic systems relies however on a good quantitative understanding of the functioning of the various processes involved. To acquire that knowledge, one observes the cell reaction to a range of external perturbations. However, current experimental techniques do not allow precise perturbations of cellular processes over a long time period. To make progress on this problem, we develop an experimental platform for the closed-loop control of intracellular processes. In collaboration with the MSC lab (CNRS/Paris Diderot U), we develop models of the controlled cellular system, generate quantitative data for parameter identification, and develop real-time control approaches. The integration of all these elements results in an original platform combining hardware (microfluidic device and microscope) and software (cell tracking and model predictive control algorithms). More specifically, by setting up an external, in silico feedback loop, we investigate the strengths and time scales of natural feedback loops, responsible for cell adaptation to environmental fluctuations.