The Importance of Computational Modeling in Stem Cell Research

• Published in: Trends in biotechnology (Regular ed.) 2021-02, Vol.39 (2), p.126-136
• Main Authors: del Sol, Antonio, Jung, Sascha
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cell culture; Communication; Communications networks; Computer applications; Congenital anomalies; DNA methylation; Experimental research; Gene expression; Homeostasis; Ligands; Mathematical models; Medical research; multiscale modeling; single-cell multiomics data; stem cell therapy; Stem cells; Tissue engineering
• ISSN: 0167-7799; 1879-3096
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2020.07.006

The generation of large amounts of omics data is increasingly enabling not only the processing and analysis of large data sets but also the development of computational models in the field of stem cell research. Although computational models have been proposed in recent decades, we believe that the stem cell community is not fully aware of the potentiality of computational modeling in guiding their experimental research. In this regard, we discuss how single-cell technologies provide the right framework for computational modeling at different scales of biological organization in order to address challenges in the stem cell field and to guide experimentalists in the design of new strategies for stem cell therapies and treatment of congenital disorders. In the era of single-cell big data, computational modeling is a powerful tool to describe biological systems and generate predictions across different spatial and temporal scales. The steadily increasing amount of data allows the development of models that link different levels of biological organization, such as intracellular interactions, cellular behavior, and the behavior of cell populations.The development of single-cell–based mechanistic models is necessary to better characterize biological processes and generate more accurate predictions of cellular conversion factors, cell identity transcription factors, and cell–cell interactions relevant for tissue regeneration and homeostasis.We expect these models to accelerate the development of novel regenerative medicine strategies by guiding experimentalists in the design of stem cell transplantation and gene correction therapies.