Research Spotlight: Center for Modeling Pulmonary Immunity

Profs. Chrysanthis and Labrinidis to lead bioinformatics effort in Center for Modeling Pulmonary Immunity

The Center for Modeling Pulmonary Immunity (http://cmpi.cs.pitt.edu) was recently established by NIH and is a joint effort between the University of Pittsburgh (School of Medicine and School of Arts & Sciences), Carnegie Mellon, and the University of Michigan. The Center will develop sophisticated mathematical models for investigating how the immune system responds to the pathogens that cause flu, tuberculosis, and tularemia.

The Advanced Data Management Technologies Laboratory of the Computer Science Department (http://db.cs.pitt.edu), directed by Dr. Panos K. Chrysanthis and Dr. Alexandros Labrinidis, will develop new techniques and tools for managing and sharing of the data and models developed as part of the Center's research. Their proposed web-based collaboration platform will integrate data and knowledge bases providing enhanced communication and cooperation among modelers and experimentalists. In addition to enhanced synergy among the Center's modelers and experimentalists, the platform will enable stronger interactions with investigators from the other NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Centers as well as other institutions.

More information:

• University Times Article (January 5, 2006)
  Research Notes: Immune Modeling Center funded
• Post Gazette Article (December 9, 2005)
  Pitt School of Medicine gets contract to help create virtual immune system
• UPMC Press Release (December 8, 2005)
  NIH awards University of Pittsburgh $9 million to establish Immune Modeling Center