Introductory description

The module will cover topics on the acquisition of and analysis of large-scale data generated in biomedical sciences, particularly DNA/RNA sequences, live cell microscopy and multi-gigapixel pathology images. Students will be introduced to how these data are acquired, modern machine learning methods to process the data, and computational modelling approaches to help us better understand the complex phenomena underpinning biological processes. The module will be taught following an "algorithmic approach," demonstrating that addressing problems in computational biology requires a diverse range of theoretical concepts and algorithms, making it an exciting and rapidly evolving field for computer scientists.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

• Molecular biology fundamentals;
• Sequence alignments;
• Phylogenetic Trees;
• Dimensionality reduction and clustering;
• Live cell microscopy fundamentals;
• Image based modelling of single cell dynamics;
• Overview of mathematical modelling techniques and their application: Ordinary differential equations, stochastic differential equations, Monte Carlo methods
• Introduction to tissue imaging and computational pathology;
• Whole-slide image (WSI) handling and processing;
• Recognising various kinds of cells in cancerous WSIs;
• Advanced research topics in computational biology;

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Have an understanding of how tissue slides are imaged with high throughput
• Have a basic grasp of fundamental molecular biology concepts as relevant to this module
• Understand some basic and commonly used algorithms in bioinformatics
• Know algorithms to compute sequence alignments and how these are applied in current research
• Understand basic problems in the processing and analysis of tissue images and some standard solutions to those
• Be able to apply image analysis and machine learning to real-world computational pathology problems
• Understand principles of fluorescence microscopy and image-based modelling of single cell dynamics
• Know how to apply different mathematical techniques for modelling cellular dynamics

Indicative reading list

Zvelebil, M., and Baum, J.O., Understanding Bioinformatics. Garland Science, 2008;
Kremling, A., Systems Biology. CRC Press, 2014;
Pantanowitz, L., and Parwani, A., Digital Pathology. ASCP, 2017;
Alberts, B., et al., Essential cell biology: an introduction to the molecular biology of the cell (5/e). Garland, 2008.

Research element

Students need to develop and implement algorithms to address questions typically asked in current research projects. For example: Perform sequence analysis of homologous genes and construct phylogenetic trees, generate simulation data of gene regulatory networks and perform dimensionality reduction and clustering, develop models for cellular dynamics, analyze digital pathology images taken from real-world data.

Interdisciplinary

The module will cover a broad range of techniques used in biology, mathematics, and computer science.

Subject specific skills

By the end of the module, students will have acquired skills in:

• Implementing fundamental bioinformatics algorithms for computing alignments and phylogenetic trees
• Formulating and solving mathematical models of gene regulatory networks
• Applying methods of dimensionality reduction and clustering
• Formulating mathematical models of cellular dynamics
• Handling and processing of whole-slide images (WSI) data
• Recognising various kinds of cells in cancerous WSIs

Transferable skills

 Technical - Technological competence and staying current with knowledge
 Communication - Verbal, listening, writing, technical communication skills, using different medium for communicating
 Critical Thinking - Problem-solving, analysis of possible solutions etc
 Creativity - Ability to harnass creative ideas and turn them into tangible and strategic products/solutions