Speakers
Description
Heterogeneity in cell behaviour plays a central role in the spatiotemporal organisation of cell populations, such as in the formation of bacterial biofilms, tissues, and tumour invasion. Mathematical modelling provides a framework for understanding how emergent collective behaviours arise from dynamic interactions within heterogeneous cell populations. The nature of this heterogeneity, as well as the specific collective function of interest, often necessitates different modelling approaches. In this minisymposium, we aim to showcase a range of mathematical approaches for studying cellular heterogeneity across scales, from gene regulatory networks to phenotypically structured population models and their applications. By fostering interactions among speakers with diverse expertise, applications, and backgrounds, we aim to promote the integration of these approaches, helping to overcome their individual limitations and to reveal how heterogeneity promotes robustness or drives disruption in the physiological functions of cell collectives across spatial and temporal scales.
