Biophysics and Physiological Modeling

Welcome to the future of biophysics and physiological modeling! As part of a National Science Foundation (NSF) "Course, Curriculum, and Laboratory Improvement" (CCLI) grant, I'm developing modules that値l be used by instructors and students around the world. If you take part you値l be one of the first people in the world to discover the benefits of a new and exciting approach to learning about biophysics and physiology!

The modules are aimed at biology, life science and physical science majors (or any other students :)) interested in learning about physiological systems and processes. In the modules, we値l develop simple models that can be implemented in an Excel spreadsheet. Using the spreadsheet, we値l discover what the practical implications of the model are, and then we値l compare the model predictions with experimental (or clinical) data (if available). For example, in the early modules, we値l develop a simple (pharmacokinetic) model of how penicillin is eliminated from the body. While this model (and the other models we値l develop) are particularly simple (and are therefore easy to understand :)), the molecular modeling approach is actually a cutting-edge research technique!

Once we致e developed the drug elimination model, we値l compare the model predictions with published data for healthy volunteers and intensive care patients on heart-lung machines to interpret the clinical data... There are numerous other topics that we can investigate with a similar approach including:

distribution of oxygen, carbon dioxide and glucose osmosis and homeostasis of erythrocytes fluid dynamics and blood flow kinetics of motors, carriers, and RNA

membrane transport and drug delivery diffusion of neurotransmitters ion channel permeation and gating ion channels and the action potential

I知 currently working on developing new topics and approaches. If there is a topic that you池e interested in that you think might be fun to do, please let me know.

Usage
The modules are self-contained workbooks. Hence, you (or your teaching assistant (TA)) can use them as supplemental Biophysics computer labs, or as the basis of a discovery-based active-learning course.

If you池e interested in trying out these modules please send me an email and I'll let you know when the first modules are available for trial.

I値l update this page with more information as it becomes available...

Further Info...
Prerequisites: The modules assume a minimum of one year of university-level chemistry, and one year of (algebra-based) university-level physics. No calculus required! However, optional sections are included for those students with a year of university-level calculus.

Student researchers/testers
I would like to thank my students at BU in Biol/Chem/Phys 323 - "Biophysics" and Biol 310 - "Biophysics and Physiological Modeling", for their patience, support, encouragement and enthusiasm. I couldn稚 have done it without you!

I would also like to thank the following students for their assistance: Nathan Kucera, Jonathan Rink, Ashley Rink, Stephanie Denny, David Faber, Matthew Harrison, James Norris, Shaheen Shuja, Muzamil Arshad, Amar Khatri, Luke Cox, and Rama Wahood.

Funding and awards
NSF Grant DUE-0836833
AAAS Conference:Transforming Undergraduate Biology Abstracts
AAMC MedEdPORTAL for Undergraduate Science (uScience)
NIH Grant GM20584

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This page was last updated on January 19, 2010 by pHn.
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