18 November 2013 New research group takes a systems approach

Lincoln University Professor Sandhya Samarasinghe has founded a new academic cohort known as the Integrated Systems Modelling Group (ISM).

The ISM Group aims to promote and enhance the understanding and development of systems modelling; particularly in the biological, engineering, environmental and agricultural space via trans-disciplinary research using computational, mathematical, conceptual, theoretical and philosophical methods.

An integral aim of the ISM Group is to translate the research into applicable real-world technologies.

The ISM Group is made up of nine Lincoln University academic staff members and over 25 postgraduate students.

The Group includes affiliations with the Centre for Mathematical Biology at University of Oxford; the German Cancer Research Centre; the Mathematics Department at Princeton University; UNESCO (Paris) Sustainable Water Resources Section; the Institute for Global Water Security, Saskatchewan, Canada; DairyNZ; the locally based Centre for Advanced Computational Solutions (C-fACS); the Waterways Centre for Freshwater Management; and the Centre for Land Environment and People (LEaP).

According to Professor Samarasinghe, the ISM Group aims to bring together the extensive, wide-ranging expertise in Advanced Computational Modelling under the theme of Integrated Systems, with the goal being to address, from a holistic perspective, some of the most challenging and complex problems in the biological, environmental and agricultural domains. 

Systems modelling is a form of research stemming from the need for an integrated, relationship orientated approach to make sense of new systems knowledge being discovered at an unprecedented rate, for example in Biology, and to address a range of pressing intractable multi-dimensional problems concerning environment and resources.       

Rather than merely focusing on one particular aspect of a system in isolation (as is common with a wide range of research), systems modelling uses quantitative analysis and computer and mathematical modelling to gain a broader understanding of the often complex interactions of the elements within a system as a whole. The objective is to gain an understanding of the workings and relationships of the system sufficient to make ‘cause and effect’ predictions.

“With this approach, biological, physical and environmental phenomena are not seen as consisting of fragmented entities, but systems that co-exist, creating a continually evolving dynamic web of interactions. Systems modelling, therefore, looks for a holistic understanding of the limits, constraints, structure and operations of a whole system,” says Professor Samarasinghe.

The systems view holds for very small scale microscopic to very large scale macroscopic phenomena and allows integration between these scales. As such, concepts and methods developed in systems modelling are equally useful for research in both small and large scale phenomena. 

Methods for systems modelling include Intelligent Systems, Neural Networks, fuzzy and soft systems, network modelling, dynamical systems modelling, complex systems theories and philosophies, mathematical modelling, engineering, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and hydrological modelling.

One field within systems modelling is systems biology which aims to study the range of elements and influences that may affect a biological system as a whole and explore any resulting consequences stemming from changes within this system.

Ket Hing Chong, a Lincoln University PhD research student belonging to the ISM Group, is using systems biology in his research which aims at modelling the gene regulatory network controlled by the tumour suppressor protein, p53.

Known as the ‘guardian of the genome’, the p53 protein acts as a tumour suppressor through its role in regulating the cell cycle and preserving the cell’s stability by preventing mutations. It does this by either repairing or eliminating DNA damaged cells.

Ket’s research explores the complex biological system so as to identify the damage stress conditions from which p53 may be activated; particularly with regards to p53 initiating cell death. Of particular interest is the study of how particular changes in the biological system may result in p53 being supressed such that the cancer may develop and how to possibly reactivate p53.

Lincoln University PhD student, Pramuditha Waidyaratne, is modelling the ABA signalling network of plants  that is responsible for closing the stomata of plant guard cells in response to drought stress so as to prevent water loss within the plant.  She explores how various aspects of this network work together as an integrated system in order to find effective ways to improve drought resistance in plants.  

Another field within systems modelling is the study of complex environmental and socio-ecological systems involving human nature interactions.  Mamoon Obiedat, another Lincoln University PhD student in the ISM Group, studies how advanced soft computing approaches can help develop systems models from stakeholder perceptions on socio-ecological problems. Through incorporating diverse perceptions into the decision making process, effective policy solutions can be proposed to achieve more favourable outcomes for the system.

More specifically, Mamoon is applying a novel, comprehensive advanced systems modelling framework he developed to mitigate the water scarcity crisis in Jordan.  Professor Samarasinghe says this powerful framework can be useful for researchers and decision makers in many fields and thus has strong commercialisation potential.

Another useful technological development is the automated early detection of mastitis in dairy cows.  Professor Samarasinghe has been involved in the development of these technologies over the last 10 years and the ISM Group hopes their latest invention will reach the commercialisation stage very soon.