Interpreting tumour spheroid experiments using mathematical modelling and statistical uncertainty quantification

Date: Thursday 14 July 2022

Abstract

Tumour spheroid experiments have been routinely performed for the past 50 years.

Various and inconsistent experimental designs are used, leading to challenges in interpretation and reproducibility. Tumours also grow in complicated fluctuating external environments. However, spheroid experiments are typically performed in constant external environments and with oxygen partial pressures that are much greater than in vivo. In this talk I will present our recent and ongoing work in this area.

First, I will discuss our recently published work in Communications Biology titled Designing and Interpreting 4D tumour spheroid experiments. There I will discuss our objective mathematical modelling and statistical identifiability analysis framework that we use to quantitatively compare experimental designs and identify design choices that produce reliable biological insight.

Second, I will present surprising spheroid adaptation mechanisms from our latest preprint titled Growth and adaptation mechanisms of tumour spheroids with time-dependent oxygen availability.

Finally, I will conclude by outlining current work extending this research. Links to the papers can be found on my website: https://ryanmurphyresearch.com/.

This seminar wil be held in a hybrid format, with a face-to-face and an online seminar.