Automatic Control and Feedback Loops in Biology and Medicine

Abstract

Biological systems, from individual cells to cells populations, to tissue and organs to whole organisms, are equipped in multiple positive and negative feedback control mechanisms. Knowledge of these mechanisms is crucial if we want to modify intracellular biochemical control systems (in genetic engineering), affect them during therapies, control populations metabolism or behavior (e.g. in bioreactors), or design artificial organs or devices supporting physiological processes. This work focuses on three aspects of interdisciplinary research in automatic control, biology and medicine: (i) modeling of physiological processes on a whole body level, aimed at supporting artificial organs development; (ii) using optimal control theory for designing anticancer therapy protocols and (iii) using simulation and analysis techniques for identification of complex intracellular regulatory mechanisms, aimed at expanding knowledge in this field.