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Verena Wolf, professor of computer science at Saarland University, just won the award “Germany’s best innovators under 35”, which was announced by the German issue of the magazine Technology Review. Wolf does her research on the simulation of complex cell processes. In this way Wolf and her colleagues are able to reconstruct the development of whole cell populations with their new software within a few days. Until now this had been a time-consuming endeavor. Physicians and biologists could use the models to examine novel cancer treatment methods.
Processes on a cellular level are very complex. Different processes fit into each other like the gears in a clock. Genes control each other, a protein turns off one gene and turns on another instead, and so on. If errors occur, diseases can emerge. Until now, researchers have not been able to explain precisely how genes are controlling each other and interacting with proteins. But understanding these mechanisms could make the treatment of diseases like cancer more effective.
Verena Wolf, professor of modeling and simulation at Saarland University, is pursuing a new approach. Together with her group, she works on mathematical models and computerized simulations, which are exploring “gene regulated networks”. By doing so, the researchers in Saarbrücken can describe procedures inside cells and lab observations in more detail than before.
With certain computational methods, the computer scientists can randomly turn genes on and off in their simulations. By using their software SHAVE (Stochastic Hybrid Analysis of Markov Population Models), they are even able to imitate processes of whole cell populations. Until now, this was only possible with expensive procedures, which took several weeks, but with SHAVE, the same procedures can be carried out in several days.
In the future, physicians and biologists can use the new software to better understand the emergence of cancer and to develop more effective therapies.
The 34-year-old professor won with her research work at Technology Review magazine's competition “Innovators under 35”, as announced yesterday evening. The award is designed for young scientists and engineers, 35 and under. Wolf is one of five laureates. 46 participants were nominated for the award.
Questions can be addressed to:
Prof. Dr. Verena Wolf
Modeling and Simulation
email: wolf(at)cs.uni-saarland.de
Tel.: +49 (0)681/302-5586
Editor:
Gordon Bolduan
Science Communication
Cluster of Excellence on “Multimodal Computing and Interaction”
email: bolduan(at)mmci.uni-saarland.de
Tel.: +49 (0)681/302-70741
Verena Wolf, professor of computer science at Saarland University
Picture: das bilderwerk
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Journalisten, Wissenschaftler
Biologie, Informationstechnik, Mathematik, Medizin
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Forschungsergebnisse, Wettbewerbe / Auszeichnungen
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