Reference Models Working Group

The Reference Models Working Group was established to discuss an initial small set of reference models that would be implemented in several multicellular modeling framework.

The goal is to compare simulation results of various multicellular modeling frameworks, and to provide example models for defining model schemas, which is discussed separately in the Framework Capabilities Working Group.

The Reference Models currently under discussion include:

Single cell migration (also known as either persistent random walk or biased motility)

A single cell, starting at the far left of the domain, has a force applied to it in the positive horizontal direction, causing motility. However, the force (and motion) is stochastic with a bias, [0,1] (0=random, 1=perfectly positive horizontal). There is no signaling.

bias 0.7 motion

This plot shows the path of a single cell with a bias of 0.7 motion.

bias 0.2 motion

This plot shows a simulation of replicates of a single cell with a bias of 0.2 motion for each path.

bias 0.5 motion

This plot shows a simulation of replicates of a single cell with a bias of 0.5 motion for each path.

Single cell chemotaxis

Single cell in fixed Linear, Half-Normal, and Exponential Gradients

Monolayer growth

Starting with a single cell, cell division occurs and subsequent daughter cells simply push away from each other with the default cell-cell repulsion. There is no cell-cell adhesion nor any signaling.

One experimental paper used for reference, especially for the monolayer growth plot, is Bru, et al (2003)

Cell sorting

Given a random assortment of two cell types, they mix (just random motility, no signaling) and sort into clusters of the same cell type via differential adhesion, i.e., cells of the same type adhere to each other more than cells of opposite types.

cell sorting

From Osborne, et al (2017)

Angiogenesis

This model assumes that cell elongation is a key factor in the formation of stable vascular networks (Merks et al. 2006)

angiogenesis