Mobilizing Mathematics for the Fight Against Cancer

Dr. Trachette Jackson
Professor of Mathematics and Associate Vice President for Research – Strategic Partnerships and Inclusive Excellence
University of Michigan

It is an exciting time to work in the interdisciplinary field of Mathematical Oncology. Even TIME Magazine agrees, “A team-based, cross-disciplinary approach to cancer research is upending tradition and delivering results faster.” Mathematical oncologists apply mathematical and computational modeling approaches to every aspect of cancer biology, from tumor initiation to malignant spread to treatment response. This talk will highlight a suite of mathematical models from the past and present designed to improve the efficacy of drug treatment strategies for cancer. Combined with existing and newly generated experimental data, these mathematical models are poised to enhance the ability to combine promising drugs for clinical trials. This type of interdisciplinary science can reduce the time and costs associated with transitioning novel therapeutics approaches from “equations to bench to bedside.”