Group leader candidate: Susanna Röblitz

Prof Dr Susanna Röblitz is currently Head of the research group for Computational Systems Biology at the Zuse Institute Berlin (ZIB), and gives a seminar as part of the interview process for a position as group leader at CBU and the Department of Informatics.

Title of talk: “From molecular dynamics to systems biology: Elucidating drug treatment strategies by mathematical modelling and simulation”

Abstract: Increasing computing power has made it possible to study drug-target interactions by means of molecular dynamics simulations. However, the characterization of bound/unbound states and the estimation of binding kinetics from these data remains a challenging task. I will briefly explain how Markov state modelling can be used to estimate drug affinity and binding rates, thereby supporting drug design. In addition, I will demonstrate how this approach can be adapted to compute transition rates in biological switches. Once the binding kinetics have been estimated, reaction rate equations can be used to describe the time course of concentrations of occupied receptor binding sites. Coupled to a mathematical model that quantifies the ligand’s efficacy, this approach allows to study the potency of a drug and the effect of treatment strategies by computer simulations. I will illustrate this method in terms of a mathematical model for the administration of GnRH analogues in reproductive endocrinology.
Refreshments from 14.00. The lecture starts at 14.15 in big auditorium, 2nd floor, datablokken.

More info about the speaker here.