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Inverse problems from biomedicine

Inference of putative disease mechanisms and robust therapeutic strategies

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Abstract

Many complex diseases that are difficult to treat cannot be mapped onto a single cause, but arise from the interplay of multiple contributing factors. In the study of such diseases, it is becoming apparent that therapeutic strategies targeting a single protein or metabolite are often not efficacious. Rather, a systems perspective describing the interaction of physiological components is needed. In this paper, we demonstrate via examples of disease models the kind of inverse problems that arise from the need to infer disease mechanisms and/or therapeutic strategies. We identify the challenges that arise, in particular the need to devise strategies that are robust against variable physiological states and parametric uncertainties.

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Author notes

  1. James Lu

    Present address: Clinical Modeling & Simulation, Translational Research Sciences, F. Hoffmann-La Roche, Basel, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biomolecular Signaling and Control Group, Automatic Control Laboratory, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

    James Lu, Elias August & Heinz Koeppl

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  1. James Lu
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  2. Elias August
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  3. Heinz Koeppl
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Correspondence to James Lu.

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Lu, J., August, E. & Koeppl, H. Inverse problems from biomedicine. J. Math. Biol. 67, 143–168 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00285-012-0523-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00285-012-0523-z

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