Research

What are the dynamic regulatory mechanisms, the information processing, and the specific molecular elements that control complex biological processes? At the Lobo Lab we develop new computational and mathematical methods to build quantitative dynamic models, produce testable hypothesis, and validate them in vivo with molecular assays at the bench. Our integrated systems biology approach aims to understand the regulatory dynamics controlling multidimensional biological phenomena such as development and regeneration, the formation of cancer and other diseases when this process goes awry, and their applications to systems and synthetic biology. To this end, we also create mathematical and computational models, high-performance in silico experiments and simulators, and novel formalisms, ontologies, and databases to centralize and unambiguously describe biological experiments and their results.


Planarian worms simulation

Systems Biology

We build quantitative mathematical models to understand, analyze, and predict the behavior of biological systems.

Computational AI methods

Computational Methods

We develop computational methods to simulate and infer dynamic models, discover novel elements, and find the best next experiments to test.

Planform

Ontologies and Databases

We create ontologies, curate databases, and develop expert systems used by both human scientists and artificial intelligence machines.

Planarian regeneration

Development and Regeneration

We study how shapes and patterns are formed from a single cell during development and restored through regeneration.

Cancer phenotypes

Cancer and other Diseases

We seek to understand why and how regulatory mechanisms go awry to produce cancer and other diseases.

Knockout metabolic network

Synthetic Biology

We design and optimize regulatory and metabolic networks with desired dynamics and behaviors to solve specific bioengineering problems.


Funding

NIH

National Institutes of Health

NIGMS - MIRA - R35

Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund

Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund

Launch Research Grant

NSF

National Science Foundation

CISE - Research Initiation Initiative

OAC - MRI

PhRMA Foundation

PhRMA Foundation

Research Starter Grant