The ICREA-Complex Systems Lab, part of the Biology Department of
Universitat Pompeu Fabra/ PRBB and
member of the Institut de Biologia Evolutiva.
We are an interdisciplinary team exploring the evolution
of complex systems, both natural and artificial, searching for their common laws of organization.
We do both theoretical and experimental work, closely working in collaboration with the
Santa Fe Institute. Our research spans a broad
range of areas, including statistical physics of complex sytems,artificial life,
biological computation, synthetic, systems and network biology.
We study the evolutionary dynamics of viruses using in silico
models of their life cycle, assembly properties
and genome complexity, along with experimental data.
See our paper on epistasis in RNA viruses
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.
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.
We study 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. See our
paper
Ecological Networks and Their Fragility
In our wet CSLab we use synthetic biology approaches to explore questions related
to cell computation, multicellularity and evolution. By engineering E. coli cells
we want to address several questions relating the emergence of complexity in evolution.
We are developing theoretical and computational models aimed to the
creation of an artificial protocell able to replicate and evolve. The protocells
will be used as the building blocks of a new Living Technology (see Center for Living Technology).
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.
See our paper
on Distributed biological computation.
Funded by the
James S. McDonnell Foundation,
we study how tinkering (i. e. extensive re-use of previous components) creates
complexity and innovation in both biological and technological evolution. This includes
the emergence of multicellularity in evolution.
We study the arhitecture and emergence of language in humans and robots, trying
to find universal properties in their scaling patterns,
network organization, development and decay.
Stem cells are able to generate a whole progeny of differentiated
cell types able to perform special functions and create integrated organs.
We are exploring models of tissue evolution and small regulatory networks
that can provide useful insight into the logic of stem cell dynamics.
We study the evolutionary dynamics of viruses using in silico
models of their life cycle, assembly properties
and genome complexity, along with experimental data.
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.
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.
In our 
We are developing theoretical and computational models aimed to the
creation of an 
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.
See our paper
Most tumors display high levels of genetic instability, which
helps cancer to progress but can also limit itspropagation. We are developing
Funded by the 
We study the arhitecture and emergence of language in humans and robots, trying
to find universal properties in their scaling patterns,
Stem cells are able to generate a whole progeny of differentiated
cell types able to perform special functions and create integrated organs.
We are exploring models of tissue evolution and small regulatory networks
that can provide useful insight into the logic of stem cell dynamics.
