Our mission is to develop theoretical and computational approaches to biological systems across different scales, from molecules to cells and from cells to tissues. Starting from observations of spatio-temporal phenomena and omics data, we seek multi-scale models that can explain the principles behind the system's functioning and predict its reaction to perturbations.
Analysis of high-dimensional data or time-resolved spatial data requires a variety of approaches from theoretical physics, mathematics, and computer science. For example, what simple physical and chemical rules at one level generate complex, emergent behaviors at the level above? To answer such questions, we combine a unique blend of quantitative microscopy with computational science, nonlinear mathematics, and theoretical physics. We are an interdisciplinary team of physicists, computer scientists, mathematicians, and biologists, and our center is a cooperation between the MPI-CBG, the MPI-PKS, and the TUD.