Addressing Interdisciplinary Difficulties in Developmental Biology/Mathematical Collaborations: A Neural Crest
Donald F Newgreen1, Kerry A Landman2, James M Osborne2
1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia. don.newgreen@mcri.edu.au.
Abstract:
Mathematical modeling can allow insight into the biological processes that can be difficult to access by conventional biological means alone. Such projects are becoming increasingly attractive with the appearance of faster and more powerful quantitative techniques in both biological data acquisition and data storage, manipulation, and presentation. However, as is frequent in interdisciplinary research, the main hurdles are not within the mindset and techniques of each discipline but are usually encountered in attempting to meld the different disciplines together. Based upon our experience in applying mathematical methods to investigate how neural crest cells interact to form the enteric nervous system, we present our views on how to pursue biomathematical modeling projects, what difficulties to expect, and how to overcome, or at least survive, these hurdles. The main advice being: persevere.
Related Concept Videos
Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
Fundamental Mathematical Principles in Pharmacokinetics: Mathematical Expressions and Units
One significant application of mathematics in pharmacokinetics is the characterization of drug distribution through the volume of distribution...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution...
Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
Chronic Pancreatitis II: Collaborative Care
Assessment:
Introduction to Developmental Psychology


