Systems Biology
The goal of modern systems biology is to describe and understand the operation of complex biological systems and ultimately to develop predictive models of human disease. “Systems biology” encompasses many different approaches, including the generation and analysis of large scale gene, protein and metabolite datasets; computer modeling of disease or organ system physiology; and the use of complex human cell systems themselves (e.g BioMAP technology) to interpret and predict the biological activities of drugs and gene targets.

Systems biology and drug discovery
”Systems biology” approaches offer the potential to improve decision making in pharmaceutical drug development by accelerating hypothesis-driven biology, the selection and validation of drug targets and lead compounds, and identification of surrogate markers for clinical studies. Complex cell systems technologies, such as BioMAP, integrate a broad range of disease-relevant human biology into the drug discovery process, informing target and compound validation, lead optimization, and clinical indication selection. For further reading, see Butcher EC, Berg EL, Kunkel, EJ. Systems Biology in Drug Discovery (in the Publications section).

Special Collections / Trade Articles

BioIT World, November 12, 2002, Michael Goldman, A Virtual Pharmacopeia

C&E News, February 14, 2005, Celia Henry, Systems Biology, Measurement and modeling approaches bring a big-picture view of biology and may improve drug discovery and development

Cell, May 20, 2005

FEBS Letters special issue on Systems Biology, March 21, 2005

Genomics&Proteomics, 2004, Beth Schachter, Integrating the pieces of systems biology

Nature Biotechnology, October 2004

Nature web focus on Systems Biology (although won’t be free after Oct 2005)

Signals online magazine, June 21, 2003, Jennifer van Brunt, Systems biology completes the circle

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