How can complex biological systems be described theoretically and how can their functions be precisely predicted? The new LOEWE focus "CMMS - Multi-Scale Modelling in the Life Sciences" at the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies will investigate this.

Under the leadership of the Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies and together with the partners at the Goethe University Frankfurt, the Max Planck Institute for Biophysics and the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research (both Frankfurt), numerous scientists at FIAS will develop new approaches to data organization and algorithms from 2020 onwards in order to enable a quantitative recording of the properties of biological systems on different scales using mathematical models. The generated computer models will be verified by experiments and will help to understand the functioning of organisms and to develop medical treatments and biotechnological applications. To this end, a graduate program will be established together with the three partners.  As announced by the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts, the new LOEWE priority will receive a total of approx. 4.5 million euros for this project as part of the LOEWE research funding programme until the end of 2023.

"We are very proud and happy about this positive news, and look forward to establishing a new, future-oriented research direction in Frankfurt with this exciting project from 2020 together with our colleagues from the neighbouring faculties of the Goethe University and the Max Planck Institutes," says the coordinator of the new LOEWE focus, Prof. Dr. Volker Lindenstruth. "In order to give this project the right impetus for a successful start, four junior research groups in this area are to be announced this year and filled at the beginning of 2020," adds Prof. Dr. Enrico Schleiff, Chairman of the Board of FIAS.