The Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research NWO has awarded funding to three projects that involve CWI's Non-linear PDE group. This was announced in December 2003. The subsidies are part of NWO's Computational Life Sciences programme.
The first awarded project focuses on obstacles to simulation of the behaviour of a complete living cell. CWI researchers Mark Peletier, Joke Blom, and Jan van Schuppen will attempt to simplify models of complex chemical processes in cells. They will model reactions at irregular surfaces. Furthermore, they will integrate - fundamentally different - models developed at CWI, the University of Amsterdam and the Vrije Universiteit into one large simulation model.
Joke Blom also participates in a project on the numerical simulation of genetic regulation systems. These systems play a fundamental role in biological processes like the development from an ovum to an individual. The project is coordinated by Jaap Kaandorp of the University of Amsterdam. The third project, coordinated by Bas Kooijman of the Vrije Universiteit, studies the binding of carbon dioxide from the air by ocean algae. By combining biological models and ocean flow simulations the researchers hope to gain more insight in the effects of this 'organic carbon pump'. CWI researcher Ben Sommeijer participates in the project.
