Biologists and computer scientists create computational model of human tissue news

Computer scientists and biologists in the Data Science Research Center at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute at Troy, New York, have developed a rare collaboration between the two very different fields to pick apart a fundamental roadblock to progress in modern medicine.

Their unique partnership has uncovered a new computational model called ''cell graphs'' that links the structure of human tissue to its corresponding biological function. The tool is a promising step in the effort to bring the power of computational science together with traditional biology to the fight against human diseases such as cancer.

The discovery follows a more than six-year collaboration, breaking ground in both fields. The work will serve as a new method to understand and predict relationships between the cells and tissues in the human body, which is essential to detect, diagnose, and treat human disease. It also serves as an important reminder of the power of collaboration in the scientific process. Read More