Center for Modeling Complex Interactions

About This Grant

Biomedical problems are innately complex, and their solutions require input from many fields. Many centers focus on a single disease or organ system. By contrast, the Center for Modeling Complex Interactions focuses on an approach that can address many biomedical problems: team-based, interdisciplinary research centered around modeling. Our goal is to support and facilitate biomedical discovery by integrating modeling into interdisciplinary research. Modeling improves research at all stages, from hypothesis formulation and experimental design to analysis and interpretation, providing a unifying language that highlights commonalities and uncovers connections between problems. Formalization of ideas into this unifying language also improves rigor and reproducibility. We define modeling broadly to include everything from deterministic and stochastic mathematical approaches to physical and computational models of three-dimensional objects, to agent-based and machine learning approaches. We seek to support modelers by increasing their numbers, and by giving them opportunities to play productive roles in interdisciplinary teams. We also seek to support empiricists by giving them access to relevant modeling expertise, and by creating a community and a culture to facilitate interdisciplinary research. In Phase 1, the Center for Modeling Complex Interactions created the intellectual, cultural, and physical environment to promote team-based, interdisciplinary research. In Phase 2, we built on that foundation and created an even stronger interdisciplinary culture to foster collaboration among people who might otherwise never connect, and by adding additional faculty to expand our modeling expertise. In Phase 3 we have four Aims: (1) Support faculty to carry out model-based, interdisciplinary biomedical research and increase their competitiveness for external funding. Research in the Center is carried out in the context of Working Groups—zero-barrier, interdisciplinary, goal-focused teams that meet regularly to get work done. Supported research includes Pilot Projects, Modeling Access Grants, Data Access Grants and ad hoc teams. Our comprehensive plan for proposal preparation improves grantsmanship, and our staff assists with submission and grant management. (2) Increase University of Idaho’s faculty participation in biomedical research. We will invest time and resources in the existing faculty by providing mentoring, proposal development assistance, and social writing events. (3) Extend the reach of the Modeling Core into new areas of modeling to capitalize on emerging opportunities. The Modeling Core will develop Core Initiatives, focused on areas of modeling of broad interest to the campus community with high potential for growth. The first such initiative will be on digital twins. (4) Establish a path to long-term sustainability under the umbrella of the Institute for Modeling Collaboration & Innovation. A key strategy for sustainability is to maintain our status as a university institute; this provides funds for staff and Modeling Core postdocs. We will maintain engagement by Center participants to catalyze interactions and promote future interdisciplinary biomedical projects.