Mathematical modelling of mechanisms of multidrug resistance

Cancer and malaria are two diseases, amongst many, that frequently become multidrug resistant and this can have a major impact on the survival rates from these diseases. The goal of this work is to investigate mechanisms for the development of multidrug resistance by using a combined experimental and mathematical modelling approach.

The proposed research will investigate biophysical mechanisms for multidrug resistance by combining an in vivo experimental approach and a mathematical modelling approach. Mathematical models for drug transport via membrane transporters (e.g. PGP) will be developed alongside alternative potential mechanisms which rely on changes to the pH and membrane potential of the cell. These models will be analysed and assessed in comparison to the experimental results from this programme and other published data.