Building blocks for computational models of angiogenesis

Angiogenesis or neovascularization plays a crucial role in a variety of physiological and pathological conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer and in tissue engineering. Angiogenesis is a complex process, where emergent behavior of cells results in the formation of microvascular networks. We have begun a systematic development of computation models, starting with models of growth factor interactions with their receptors on the cell surface and the extracellular matrix, proteolysis of the matrix with matrix metalloproteinases and the associated cell signaling. We will proceed toward a physiome model of angiogenesis, i.e., a set of models spanning multiple levels of biological organization.