The Complex Systems Lab, part of the Biology Department of
Universitat Pompeu Fabra/ PRBB ,
is an interdisciplinary research team exploring the evolution
of complex systems, both natural and artificial, searching for their common laws of organization.
We closely work in collaboration with the
Santa Fe Institute and the
Center of Genome Regulation
. Our research
spans a broad range of systems, with special attention to biological computation,
protocell biology, synthetic, systems and network biology.
We are exploring the dynamics of viruses using in silico
models of their life cycle, assembly properties
and genome complexity. We have used bit string models
to analyse the presence of error thresholds and we are
exploring the structure of their fitness landscapes and how they
adapt in a changing world.
Tissues are well-defined, collectively organized systems describable
in terms of the interactions among connected cells. Tissue architecture
reflects both evolutionary pressures and global constraints. We explore potential
models of tissues, their evolutionary origins
and how can they be artificially designed.
Many diseases are multifactorial, meaning that they are not
the result of a single, isolated cause. Funded by two EU projects (
COMPLEXDIS and SYNLET
we will explore complex diseases
(such as cancer, Alzheimer disease and multiple sclerosis) under
a network perspective.
We have studied the architecture of ecological networks at different scales
and in different contexts. We are currently studying these webs and their
fragility under the light of climate change and habitat fragmentation.
Most tumors display high levels of genetic instability, which
helps cancer to progress but can also limit itspropagation. We are developing
theoretical models of cancer growth
involving genomic instability and cancer stem cells.
We are exploring how to create a new technology inspired in cellular networks
and how to build a general-purpose biological computer.
By evolving hardware and software, we also search for
robust solutions to complex problems. The project is funded by EU project
CELLCOMPUT .
Funded by the
James S. McDonnell Foundation,
we will explore how tinkering (i. e. extensive re-use of previous components) creates
complexity and innovation in both biological and technological evolution. This project will include
the building if an in silico computational model of large-scale evolution
of multicellular life. [See Noticies UPF]
We study the arhitecture and emergence of language in humans and robots, trying
to find universal properties in their organization, development and decay.
In collaboration with the Chemogenomics Lab
we are planning to explore the large-scale organization of chemogenomic
networks using complex networks techniques, looking both for the logic of
their organization and potential biomedical applications.
We are developing new approaches to exploring brain networks obtained
from functional mangnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which allow uncovering
the dynamical organization of cortical connections. Using information-theoretic
approaches we are trying to connect anatomical and functional webs.
We are exploring the dynamics of viruses using in silico
models of their life cycle, assembly properties
and genome complexity. We have used bit string models
to analyse the presence of error thresholds and we are
exploring the structure of their fitness landscapes and how they
adapt in a changing world.
Tissues are well-defined, collectively organized systems describable
in terms of the interactions among connected cells. Tissue architecture
reflects both evolutionary pressures and global constraints. We explore potential
models of tissues, their evolutionary origins
and how can they be artificially designed.
Many diseases are multifactorial, meaning that they are not
the result of a single, isolated cause. Funded by two EU projects (
We have studied the architecture of ecological networks at different scales
and in different contexts. We are currently studying these webs and their
fragility under the light of climate change and habitat fragmentation.
Most tumors display high levels of genetic instability, which
helps cancer to progress but can also limit itspropagation. We are developing
We are working towards the creation of a 
We are exploring how to create a new technology inspired in cellular networks
and how to build a general-purpose biological computer.
By evolving hardware and software, we also search for
robust solutions to complex problems. The project is funded by EU project
Funded by the 
We study the arhitecture and emergence of language in humans and robots, trying
to find universal properties in their organization, development and decay.
In collaboration with the 
We are developing new approaches to exploring brain networks obtained
from functional mangnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) which allow uncovering
the dynamical organization of cortical connections. Using information-theoretic
approaches we are trying to connect anatomical and functional webs.
