RESEARCH GROUPS
Research Groups of the Computational Morphodynamics Community
Sainsbury Laboratory University of Cambridge (SLCU), UK
Henrik Jönsson’s research group at SLCU focuses on the development of computational morphodynamics models at the cellular level, describing multicellular tissues such as the shoot apical meristem. The models are developed in close collaboration with experimental groups. They describe the dynamics of gene regulatory networks, hormone transport and signalling, cell growth and division, and mechanical properties. Integral for the research is the iterative evaluation of the models and their parameters to new experimental data, mainly in the form of live microscopy data.
Sarah Robinson’s group at SLCU uses a combination of novel biophysical tools, genetic manipulation and mathematical modelling to investigate how plant development (cell division and cell expansion) is controlled.
Renske Vrooman’s group at SLCU studies the evolutionary dynamics of developmental processes in biology with a focus on plants.
Plant Reproduction and Development Lab (RDP),ENS de Lyon, France
The RDP Institute conducts fundamental research aimed at multiscale and quantitative understanding of the development and evolution of plant reproductive structures. Christoph Godin and Olivier Ali are members of the Mosaic team at Inria (National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology), who are also part of the RDP Lab at ENS de Lyon. Their research aims are to develop theoretical approaches and computational tools to study morphogenesis of multicellular systems, with an emphasis on plants.
John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK
The Richard Smith Lab at the John Innes Centre is primarily focused on plant developmental modeling. They are interested in how genes control the mechanical properties of cells that results in emergent form. To support the modeling, the lab has also developed software for image processing and experimental biomechanics. They are primarily a (C++) software group and develop various tools.
Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), University of Tübingen, Germany
The Gabriella Mosca lab at the Centre for Plant Molecular Biology (ZMBP), uses computational tools to understand the interaction between genetic signaling and mechanical cues and how they both regulate morphogenesis. They develop the MorphoMechanX software to model plant biomechanics, both for modeling morphogenesis and the interpretation of biomechanical experiments. MorphoMechanX uses the finite element method (FEM) to model the plant cell wall, is specialized for subdivision and growth, and can be used to model organs at both the cellular and tissue scale. MorphoMechanX is open source, implemented in C++, and is installed as an AddOn for the MorphoDynamX software.
Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research, Cologne, Germany
Pau Formosa-Jordan’s lab at the Max Planck Institute for Plant Breeding Research are studying the multicellular dynamics of different plant developmental processes. They use a combination of mathematical modelling, time-lapse microscopy and quantitative image analysis.
Hadrien Oliveri’s group explores mechanistic, mechanical, mathematical models of plant morphogenesis. Combining exact, asymptotic and numerical methods, they seek to uncover the guiding principles of plant living matter.
University of Freiburg, Germany
Dr Christian Fleck heads the Spatial Systems Biology Group at the Freiburg Centre for Data Analysis and Modelling. He is interested in the spatio-temporal dynamics of natural and synthetic biological systems. A particular focus lies on spatial pattern formation. The group works in close collaboration with experimental partners in biology and uses a broad range of methods, including analytical mathematical methods, statistical methods and computer simulations.
Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics of Montpellier (LIRMM), France
Emmanuel Faure is a researcher based at The Laboratoire d’Informatique, de Robotique et de Microélectronique de Montpellier (Laboratory of Computer Science, Robotics and Microelectronics of Montpellier). LIRMM is a is a joint research unit of University of Montpellier and the French National Center for Scientific Research (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS).
Institut Jean-Pierre Bourgin – Plant Sciences (IJPB), Versailles, France
The research activities of the Modelling and Digital Imaging team led by Philippe Andrey at IJPB aim to decipher the complexity of developmental and morphogenetic processes in plants from a computational perspective. The team combines image processing and analysis, spatial statistics, and mathematical or computational approaches to develop original methods, algorithms, and models. Based on their C++ libraries, they also develop tools such as the Biological Image Processing (BIP) software.