Integrating data-driven biophysical models into respiratory medicine - BIOREME
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Mathematical Sciences
Abstract
Lung diseases such as Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease affect one in five people in the UK and kill someone every 5 minutes. The number of patients with these lung diseases was increasing in the NHS even before COVID-19. We are also learning about serious long-term effects of COVID-19 that will add to the existing burden on the NHS.
There have been huge advances in technologies that allow scientists to see inside the lungs and measure what we breathe out. While this information has taught us quite a lot, it is still very difficult to combine different sources of information and turn it into new or improved treatments. Getting that useful information out of large amounts of medical test results requires sophisticated physics-based mathematical and statistical models run on powerful computers - a combination of techniques called data-driven biophysical multiscale modelling. The ability to develop those kinds of models will allow us to better understand how diseases start and how they progress.
Our BIOREME network will support new research that uses these techniques to mimic biological and mechanical processes that occur throughout the lung. Using the information from thousands of lung tests, the idea is then to get these models to mimic real diseased lungs. In order to improve and build trust in these models, some of our projects will be focused on comparing their outputs to results from other lung tests. Medical scientists can then use such models to test what might happen in a particular type of lung disease, and to investigate possible responses to new treatments before testing these in patients. Most importantly, this will lead to the design of new drugs and improved trials for new treatments.
The first step will be to get medics, imaging experts and mathematicians together with industry and patient group representatives to decide on which specific research areas to prioritise, where this form of modelling will make the most difference. This NetworkPlus award will then allow us to organise multiple events, in different formats, designed to help researchers to collaborate, and to come up with the best initial projects to help achieve our goals. We will then help the researchers to develop these into larger projects that will attract funding from other sources and continue the research into the future. Even after this funding runs out, BIOREME will provide a lively forum for lung researchers to continue solving problems using these advanced computational tools. Finally, BIOREME will support outreach activities to engage and educate communities and young people in the role that mathematics can play in medicine and healthcare, and to inspire a new generation of respiratory scientists from diverse backgrounds.
There have been huge advances in technologies that allow scientists to see inside the lungs and measure what we breathe out. While this information has taught us quite a lot, it is still very difficult to combine different sources of information and turn it into new or improved treatments. Getting that useful information out of large amounts of medical test results requires sophisticated physics-based mathematical and statistical models run on powerful computers - a combination of techniques called data-driven biophysical multiscale modelling. The ability to develop those kinds of models will allow us to better understand how diseases start and how they progress.
Our BIOREME network will support new research that uses these techniques to mimic biological and mechanical processes that occur throughout the lung. Using the information from thousands of lung tests, the idea is then to get these models to mimic real diseased lungs. In order to improve and build trust in these models, some of our projects will be focused on comparing their outputs to results from other lung tests. Medical scientists can then use such models to test what might happen in a particular type of lung disease, and to investigate possible responses to new treatments before testing these in patients. Most importantly, this will lead to the design of new drugs and improved trials for new treatments.
The first step will be to get medics, imaging experts and mathematicians together with industry and patient group representatives to decide on which specific research areas to prioritise, where this form of modelling will make the most difference. This NetworkPlus award will then allow us to organise multiple events, in different formats, designed to help researchers to collaborate, and to come up with the best initial projects to help achieve our goals. We will then help the researchers to develop these into larger projects that will attract funding from other sources and continue the research into the future. Even after this funding runs out, BIOREME will provide a lively forum for lung researchers to continue solving problems using these advanced computational tools. Finally, BIOREME will support outreach activities to engage and educate communities and young people in the role that mathematics can play in medicine and healthcare, and to inspire a new generation of respiratory scientists from diverse backgrounds.
Organisations
- University of Nottingham (Lead Research Organisation)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF DERBY (Collaboration)
- BioCity (Project Partner)
- Bioxydyn Limited (Project Partner)
- Vertex Pharmaceuticals (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- GlaxoSmithKline (United Kingdom) (Project Partner)
- National Institute for Health Research (Project Partner)
- Innovate UK (Project Partner)
- SCIREQ Sci Respiratory Equipment Inc. (Project Partner)
- NIHR Biomedical Research Units (BRUs) (Project Partner)
- Asthma UK (Project Partner)
Title | Lung Disease: What's Maths got to do with it? |
Description | A video animation to inform the general public on the aims of the network developed with input from patient groups organised through Asthma + Lung UK. The video highlights the challenges we are addressing, the potential for mathematical modelling and the key themes within the networks remit at a level accessible to a lay audience. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | This animation has been viewed over 1,500 times on Youtube. It is pinned to our social media and webpages. We played it on loop at the British Science Festival to introduce participants to our research area. |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDOSQWQbrwE |
Title | Lung Disease: What's Maths got to do with it? |
Description | A video animation to inform the general public on the aims of the network developed with input from patient groups organised through Asthma + Lung UK. The video highlights the challenges we are addressing, the potential for mathematical modelling and the key themes within the networks remit at a level accessible to a lay audience. |
Type Of Art | Film/Video/Animation |
Year Produced | 2022 |
Impact | This animation has been viewed over 1,500 times on Youtube. It is pinned to our social media and webpages. We played it on loop at the British Science Festival to introduce participants to our research area. |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDOSQWQbrwE |
Description | BIOREME - Undergraduate Internship funding |
Amount | £2,800 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Nottingham |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2023 |
End | 10/2023 |
Description | Long COVID grant writing working group 1 |
Organisation | University of Derby |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Following the Sandpit hosted by the BIOREME network in 2022, a working group was formed between researchers, clinicians and a start-up company across disciplines and institutions. The group is led by Dr Mark Faghy (University of Derby), Prof Bindi Brook (University of Nottingham) and Dr Nabil Fadai (University of Nottingham). They are working alongside a start-up company to develop feasibility studies and a grant funding proposal in applying mathematical modelling in Long COVID. They have secured funding for 2X Undergraduate projects to support this work. |
Collaborator Contribution | The Nottingham partners are providing the mathematical modelling expertise, the Derby partners are providing expertise in physiology, there are also clinical partners advising on this work. |
Impact | The key outcome is BIOREME network have facilitated, through hosting the Sandpit, a collaboration of multi-disciplinary researchers, clinicians and industry to form a working group and develop a research funding bid. They have also secured funding to support 2X undergraduate summer internships to take place in summer 2023 to carry out feasibility studies. The multi-disciplinary expertise includes mathematics, data science, physiology, biology, imaging, respiratory medicine. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Long COVID grant writing working group 2 |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | BIOREME Research team provided funding following the research sandpit on Long COVID in September 2022 to support a working group to develop a funding bid in the area of Long-COVID . The group is led by Prof Siddiqui (Co-I on the BIOREME grant) and Dr Diaz (UCL) and brings together multi-disciplinary researchers and clinicians. Prof Siddiqui brings clinical expertise to the working group. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Diaz contributes his mathematical modelling expertise to the group. |
Impact | Key outcome is the BIOREME network has facilitated, through the sandpit event, a group of multi-disciplinary researchers and clinicians to connect, form a working group and develop a funding bid, applying mathematical modelling to respiratory conditions. Disciplines involve include, respiratory medicine, mathematics, immunology, physiology, data science, molecular biology. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Long COVID grant writing working group 2 |
Organisation | University College London |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | BIOREME Research team provided funding following the research sandpit on Long COVID in September 2022 to support a working group to develop a funding bid in the area of Long-COVID . The group is led by Prof Siddiqui (Co-I on the BIOREME grant) and Dr Diaz (UCL) and brings together multi-disciplinary researchers and clinicians. Prof Siddiqui brings clinical expertise to the working group. |
Collaborator Contribution | Dr Diaz contributes his mathematical modelling expertise to the group. |
Impact | Key outcome is the BIOREME network has facilitated, through the sandpit event, a group of multi-disciplinary researchers and clinicians to connect, form a working group and develop a funding bid, applying mathematical modelling to respiratory conditions. Disciplines involve include, respiratory medicine, mathematics, immunology, physiology, data science, molecular biology. |
Start Year | 2022 |
Description | Annual Network Wide meeting 2023 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | We ran an in-person 1 day conference to bring our network members together and invited researchers (senior to PhD level) to present talks and posters. It was also an opportunity to engage new members and promote our upcoming activities. Key outputs were - reputation growth for the network, new contacts made between attendees, showcase PhD and post-doc level researchers, increase BIOREME membership. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.bioreme.net/events-all/annual-network-wide-meeting |
Description | BIOREME monthly newsletter |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | We send monthly newsletters to our network members (currently 173 members) to inform them of upcoming opportunities organised by our network as well as external opportunities relevant to our members. The key impact is our members stay informed and it helps promote our activities, increasing engagement in our events and funding opportunities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
Description | Event stall at The British Science Festival September 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The BIOREME developed and delivered a stand at The British Science Festival. The stand was on a main shopping street which captured the general public, some who had come specifically for the festival, many who had not. Activities ranged from VR experience of a lung, hands on lung models and a real pigs lung the public could inflate as an excellent visual and conversation starter. The stall sparked lots of interest from participants, in particular we recorded comments which suggested they had learnt something new about the lungs and modelling, that they were interested in the work, that the stand was a great way to introduce new ideas. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bioreme.net/news/bioreme-at-the-british-science-festival |
Description | Patient Public Involvement - Asthma + Lung Focus groups |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Patients, carers and/or patient groups |
Results and Impact | In collaboration with Asthma + Lung we ran three focus groups with up to 8 patient participants per group. These focus groups were facilitated by A+L and each one was centered around a key research theme we have identified within our research area. The outcome of the focus groups has informed the content of a wider patient survey which will be used to gather key information on patient priorities to help shape and support future grant applications. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Primary School visit (Nottingham) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | BIOREME researchers visited a primary school during careers week and delivered a presentation on their career paths, followed by a series of hands on activities. The pupils asked some interesting questions on career paths, why maths, why biology and learnt about asthma, the lungs and applications of maths. The students took home an activity card to make their own lung model. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bioreme.net/news/bioreme-joined-school-careers-week |
Description | Research Sandpit event - Understanding Long COVID 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The BIOREME network ran a research sandpit on "Understanding Long-COVID" in September 2022. The event attracted national and international researchers, clinicians, patients and charity groups. During the first day a series of presentations were delivered in the research area, from patients and clinicians. During day 2 the participants broke up into working groups to come up with research challenges and ideas for grant proposals. BIOREME awarded two different groups funding to support onward grant writing workshops for two different project ideas. To date, Group 1 has had one in person grant writing workshop, positive initial feedback from a funder on a funding outline and are now working towards completing a full grant funding proposal Group 2 has had two in person grant writing workshops, secured further funding for some pilot studies, is collaborating with a start-up company and working towards a full grant funding proposal |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.bioreme.net/events-all/sandpit |
Description | Research webinars |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | We run a quarterly webinar series where we ask researchers who work within a relevant research area of interest to our members to present their research with an open Q and A, where approval is granted, these are recorded and shared on our YouTube channel. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwHZ3OE2J7O_BRdqwQpsqKw |
Description | Twitter and LinkedIN account for BIOREME Network |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | BIOREME twitter and LinkedIN account is used as a tool to develop a network of individuals, networks and organisations with interest in the remit of our network. We use the channel to promote our activity, to share interesting events, research articles and opportunities. It's also a great way to reach a wider audience that we wouldn't be able to through other methods. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
URL | https://twitter.com/BIOREMEnet |
Description | Website for the BIOREME Network |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Network website developed to inform our target audience about the purpose and aims of the network. It is also used to promote our activities, we have developed a online directory of our members to create a more visible network which is published on the website. We regularly write blogs on our activity and update latest news/ opportunities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022,2023 |
URL | http://bioreme.net |