Our Computational Modelling in Medicine research theme are hosting Dr Michael Clerx from the University of Nottingham, who will give a talk on 'Estimating parameters for biological time-series models: lessons learned from a deep dive into ion channel modelling' for our Insigneo Mathematical Biology Seminar on Monday 4 March 2024.

Brief Bio:

Dr Michael Clerx, University of Nottingham
https://www.nottingham.ac.uk/mathematics/people/michael.clerx

Abstract:

Time-series measurements, recordings of a variable changing over time, are ubiquitous in quantitative biology and often modelled using dynamical systems of ODEs. In this talk we look at the challenging task of parametrising such models, focussing on the case of the hERG current, an important factor in cardiac safety pharmacology. We show how conventional pen-and-paper methods of analysis can be understood using computer simulation, but also how using the resulting "summary statistics" for parameter estimation can create problems no mathematical optimiser can solve. We discuss how directly engaging with the experiment (and experimenters) not only improves the speed and accuracy of parameter estimation methods, but can also streamline experimental procedures, leading to much richer datasets than were possible before. Finally, we summarise and generalise the lessons learned.