With the advent of genomics and functional genomics, biology has become a quantitative data-rich discipline. This has created unprecedented opportunities in virtually every area of life sciences. With the right tools, it is now possible to address fundamentally important biological questions simply analysing already available datasets. This module is designed to prepare students for this very challenge. The module covers the most important aspects of computational biology. These range from the analysis of large datasets to infer biological mechanisms to the use of mathematical modelling to conceptualize and simulate complex biological phenomena. In addition to providing an intuitive overview of the basic theoretical principles, the module will focus on real life applications through multiple cases studies. Among these, students will learn how to identify drug targets and mechanisms of drug resistance and how to understand mathematical models of biological systems. They will then learn aspects of quantitative system pharmacology and physiologically based pharmacokinetic modelling pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling.
The module will be taught through a combination of lectures, workshops and seminars. The module will be assessed via two written reports.