In this project, mathematical models are used to characterize the dynamic changes in the tumour over the course of a treatment that enhances the anti-tumour immune response, with the purpose of defining parameters that are important to tumour rejection.
Postdoctoral fellow: Dr. Raluca Eftimie, Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University Lead faculty member: Dr. Jonathan Bramson, Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University
Cancer emergence and progression are highly complex processes characterized by interactions among a large variety of cells and signalling molecules. It is very difficult to explain these complex interactions through linear thinking and molecular reductionist approaches. Mathematical modeling is a powerful tool that can substantially enhance our capacity for interpreting the data and generate new hypotheses. In this proposal, we will use mathematical models to characterize the dynamic changes in the tumour over the course of a treatment that enhances the anti-tumour immune response, with the purpose of defining parameters that are key to tumour rejection. These models will provide an instrument that can be used by clinicians to exploit these parameters for evaluating treatment outcomes.