Chaste: an open source C++ library for computational physiology and biology

Area of Science:

• Computational biology
• Physiological modeling
• Scientific computing

Background:

• Chaste (Cancer, Heart And Soft Tissue Environment) is an open-source C++ library.
• It is designed for computational simulation of mathematical models in physiology and biology.
• Initial applications focused on cardiac electrophysiology and cancer development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Chaste library for computational simulations.
• To showcase its application in cardiac electrophysiology and cancer development.
• To highlight its role in accelerating scientific discovery through reusable code.

Main Methods:

• Utilizes C++ for high-performance simulations.
• Incorporates modules for meshes and ODE/PDE solvers.
• Employs test-driven development for code quality and reliability.

Main Results:

• Enabled high-performance cardiac electrophysiology studies, including defibrillation simulations.
• Developed new models for tumor initiation and growth, providing insights into stem cell roles.
• Facilitated cell-based simulations for biological research.

Conclusions:

• Chaste accelerates progress in diverse scientific applications by providing reusable computational components.
• The library supports research on realistic human geometries and complex biological systems.
• Open-source availability and documentation promote wider adoption and collaboration.