Multiscale Modeling and Simulation in Computational Biology

Dear Colleagues,

Computational biology is concerned with the modeling and simulation of biological phenomena, processes and systems. Modeling refers to the process that creates a model representing some important features of a biological system. Simulation is the process that uses a model to determine the response of the modeled biological system to certain conditions, inputs or perturbations. In conventional monoscale modeling and simulation approaches, the scope and validity of a biological model is restricted to a specific time and space scale, and/or a particular level of biological organization (e.g., gene transcription). The scale focus of monoscale approaches provides an effective means to simplify the modeling and simulation process. As the need for a detailed mechanistic understanding of biological function grows, the single-scale limitation of conventional modeling and simulation approaches is no longer adequate. The realization that many biological problems of interest require a modeling and simulation approach spanning multiple levels of biophysical reality has led to a new methodology called multiscale modeling and simulation. Multiscale modeling and simulation in computational biology aims to describe and understand life phenomena at a global scale where biological function is recognized as a result of complex mechanisms that happen at several scales, from the molecular to the ecosystem level. Modeling and simulation concepts, methods and tools are invaluable for describing, understanding and predicting these mechanisms in a quantitative and integrative way. There is growing community of computational biologists that research, develop and use multiscale modeling and simulation concepts, methods, tools and systems. The aim of this special issue of Computation is to solicit contributions of original research in the area of multiscale modeling and simulation in computational biology. Specific topics include but are not limited to:

• Multiscale modeling of biological and biomedical systems and processes.
• Novel approaches for combining multiple models and scales.
• Advanced numerical techniques for solving multiscale biological problems.
• Automated techniques for reverse-engineering multiscale biological models.
• Analysis, evaluation and validation of multiscale biological models and simulations.
• Multiscale simulation/computing environments, frameworks and architectures.
• Technologies supporting distributed multiscale computing using cloud- and grid-based computing environments.
• E-infrastructures for distributed multiscale computing (computing, storage, networking).
• Dedicated multiscale computing services and resources.
• Technologies facilitating semantic interoperation of multiscale biological models and simulations, including model and data sharing.
• Systematic analyses of emerging and future requirements for multiscale modeling and simulation in computational biology.

Prof. Dr. Werner Dubitzky
Dr. Chong Wang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Computation is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• computational biology
• systems biology
• modeling
• simulation
• multiscale modeling and simulation
• scale bridging
• scale linking
• multiscale dynamics
• multiscale computing
• complexity
• complex systems
• large-scale computing
• bioinformatics