News

We are organizing an upcoming workshop on the highly relevant topic of Deep Learning (DL). Established DL domain experts Dagmar Kainmüller, Jonathan Ronen and Grégroire Montavon will cover the specialized domains of image-classification, deep learning for genomic data integration with applications in cancer diagnosis and interpretation of DL results.

The workshop takes place on January 16th/17th, 2019. More information are available at

https://www.comp-cancer.de/dl_workshop/

Places are limited to 20 and CompCancer graduate school members have prioritized access, however, vacant seats will be given to external participants.

On December 3rd we have a guest speaker: Andreas Deutsch from TU Dresden will talk about The mathematics of brain tumour invasion and progression.

Date: Tuesday, December 3rd

Time: 3 p.m.

Venue: IRI Life Sciences, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin,

Philippstr. 13, Michaelis Building (No 18),

Maud Menten Hall (3rd Floor)

https://goo.gl/maps/9LUWXKXj6pv

Abstract:

The mathematics of brain tumour invasion and progression

Andreas Deutsch
TU Dresden, Centre for Information Services and High Performance Computing, Dresden, Germany

Tumour invasion and progression may be viewed as collective phenomena emerging from the interplay of individual biological cells with their environment. Cell-based mathematical models as cellular automata, Moran processes, and Markov chains can be used to decipher the rules of interaction. In such models cells are regarded as separate units.

Here, we focus on the dynamics of glioma, which are among the most malignant brain tumours. We introduce lattice-gas cellular automaton models to analyse glioma invasion, define spatial and non-spatial Moran processes based on tumour-specific progression patterns to shed light on the size of the tumour originating niche, and adopt Markov chain models to investigate the origin of heterogeneity in glioblastoma.

References:
1. A. Deutsch, S. Dormann: Cellular automaton modeling of biological pattern formation: characterization, applications, and analysis. Birkhauser, Boston, 2018
2. T. Buder, A. Deutsch, B. Klink, A. Voss-Böhme: Patterns of tumor progression predict small and tissue-specific tumor-originating niches. Front. Oncol., 8, 668, 2019
3. A. Dirkse, A. Golebiewska, T. Buder,..., R. Bjerkvig, A. Deutsch, A. Voss-Böhme, S. P. Niclou: Stem cell-associated heterogeneity in Glioblastoma results from intrinsic tumor plasticity shaped by the microenvironment. Nature Commun., 10, 1 1787, 2019

We are recruiting for 14 open Ph.D. positions in our graduate programme in Berlin. Positions are funded for initially 3 years.

We are looking for outstanding candidates with a Masters degree and a computational background that have a strong passion for developing and applying computational methods important for cancer research. You either have a degree in areas of computer sciences, physics or mathematics and you ideally had contact with life sciences, or you have a degree in the life sciences and you have a strong interest in computing or mathematics.

Before you start your application process you need to register via our admission system.

You will be requested to submit the following documents:

    • Application Form (will be provided after registration)
    • Copies of certificates and transcripts of records
    • Motivation letter
    • Two contacts for letters of reference. The referees will be contacted directly from our admission system.
    • Outline of a possible Ph.D. project relevant to the research topics.

Application deadline is February 24th, 2019. You can select up to three potential supervisors you want to work with. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to introduce themselves at a matching and recruitment event in Berlin in April. The starting date of the programme is June 2019.

The DFG funds the CompCancer research training group for an inital period of 4.5 years, see press releases:

• http://www.dfg.de/service/presse/pressemitteilungen/2018/pressemitteilung_nr_51/index.html
• https://www.charite.de/service/pressemitteilung/artikel/detail/die_digitale_zukunft_der_krebsforschung_in_berlin_staerken/