Annual Report 2005 - Fields Institute - University of Toronto

parameters – for example, in the case of cancer and angiogensis
(with its possible implications for cancer therapy),
the number of options fast becoming available to practicing
oncologists will be overwhelming unless we find mathematical
approaches for simulating particular treatment
protocols before applying them in practice.
The monthly seminar series, launched by the newly formed
Centre for Mathematical Medicine (CMM) at the Fields
Institute, is aimed at bringing together research expertise
in mathematics and medicine to address the plethora of
research questions arising at the mathematics/medicine
interface. As such, the talks are intended to be accessible to
both mathematical and medical research communities.
The inaugural talk was given by Dr. Kristen Swanson, Shaw
Research Assistant Professor in Pathology at the University
of Washington, Seattle, who spoke on Clinical Applications
of Quantitative Modeling for Invasive Brain Tumours. Her
presentation demonstrated how quantitative modeling can
not only shed light on the spatio-temporal growth of gliomas
but also can have specific clinical application in real
patients. The conclusion was that, although current imaging
techniques remain woefully inadequate in accurately
resolving the true extent of gliomas, quantitative modeling
provides a new approach for the dynamic assessment of
real patients and helps direct the way to novel therapeutic
approaches.
In May 2005, Carl Panetta (Tennessee) presented a talk
titled Modeling Chemotherapy Induced Myelosuppression.
A workshop on Modelling in Oncology: problems and challenges,
has been co-organized with the BIOM&S Working
group at the University of Guelph. This meeting is slated to
take place at the Fields Institute on 5 October, 2005. CMM
is also co-organizing a workshop (Oncology: Current problems
and future challenges) with MITACS and MSRI. This
meeting is scheduled for October 16-19, 2005 at the Banff
Research Station. A number of other initiatives with various
research groups are in the planning stages, as are plans
for a Journal Club and short courses. The official opening
of CMM will take place on Friday, 2 September 4pm-6pm
at the Fields Institute.
G e n e r a l S c i e n t i f i c A c t i v i t i e s
Fields Institute 2005 ANNUAL REPORT 97