2026 OpenVT Workshop on Multiscale Multicellular Model Sharing and Reproducibility
Abstract
Multicellular simulations (virtual tissues) have become indispensable in understanding complex biological phenomena, from tissue development to disease progression. But the diversity in simulation methods - from agent-based models, cellular Potts models, cellular automata, lattice-free models, stochastic particle simulations, etc - poses challenges in reproducibility, modularity, reusability, and integration within multi-scale simulation. With the increasing use of these models it is becoming necessary for these frameworks to adopt cross-platform compatibility which will lead to broad adoption and moving these technologies out of the research lab and into wider adoption.
Through a series of talks, discussions, and interactive tutorials/hackathons, this workshop aims to bridge these gaps by focusing on the development of standards and reference models for multicellular simulation frameworks. The workshop will bring together existing developers and users of multicellular simulation tools along with anyone with an interest in multicellular modelling and simulation. Note that the workshop will involve the development of multicellular simulations using one of a number of computational frameworks (attendees will need their own computers), however no prior knowledge will be assumed and introductory material will be provided if needed.
Registration:
Time:
Sunday July 12th, 2026 1-5pm Central European Summer Time (CEST)
Venue:
At the University of Graz. SZ 15.21 RESOWI Centre
Schedule for Workshop
| Timeframe | Description |
|---|---|
| 10:00am - 12:00pm | Informal Meetings and Discussion on Existing OpenVT Projects |
| 12:00pm - 1:00pm | Lunch (Details to be confirmed (TBC), register on form) |
| 1:00pm - 1:15 pm | Welcome and Overview |
| 1:15pm-2:45pm | Small Group Tool Tutorials and Coding Hackathon |
| 2:45pm - 3:15pm | Break |
| 3:15pm-4:15pm | Group Discussion on Results of Hackathon |
| 4:15pm-4:45pm | Breakout Groups for Discussion on Future Plans |
| 4:45pm-5:00pm | Closing Discussions and Close |
| 5:00pm Onwards | Dinner and Drinks (Details TBC, register on form) |
| Name | Description | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Artistoo | A flexible, pure JavaScript framework for implementing cellular automata and cellular Potts models. Artistoo supports building interactive, explorable models in the browser, but can also run from the command line for scientific purposes. | link |
| Chaste | Chaste (Cancer, Heart and Soft Tissue Environment) is a general-purpose simulation package aimed at simulating biological systems, particularly focusing on cardiac, cancer, and soft tissue modeling. At this workshop the focus will be on its multicellular modelling capabilities which use a number of on and off lattice modelling frameworks. | link |
| CompuCell3D | A flexible and extensible simulation environment for multi-cellular systems biology, including the use of cellular Potts models. | link |
| Morpheus | A modeling and simulation environment for the study of multi-scale and multicellular systems, able to couple ODEs, PDEs and cellular Potts models. | link |
| PhysiCell | A physics-based framework that models 3D multicellular systems, focusing on the interactions of (off-lattice) cells with their microenvironment. | link |
| Vivarium | The Vivarium Collective is a registry for open-source Vivarium-compatible simulation modules. These can be wired together to generate novel multi-scale simulations, with the most appropriate algorithm for each biological mechanism. | link |