Research

We are a bunch of cheerful theorists interested in statistical field theory with current focus on quantum biology and evolutionary dynamics. The group is led by Distinguished Professor Hsiu-Hau Lin (林秀豪) at Department of Physics, National Tsing-Hua University in Taiwan.


 * Journal Club on Cancer Dynamics **

We hold a weekly journal club on cancer dynamics. Following Nowak's textbook //Evolutionary Dynamics//, we also study some related review/research articles on the subject.

(10:00-12:00@PRPC)
 * June 28, Tuesday **
 * cancer as somatic evolution
 * tumor suppressor genes (TSG) and oncogenes
 * microsatellite instability (MIN) and chromosomal instability (CIN)
 * colon cancer


 * References: **
 * Spatial Heterogeneity in Drug Concentrations Can Facilitate the Emergence of Resistance to Cancer Therapy, PLoS Computational Biology 11, e1004142 (2015)
 * Spontaneous Symmetry Breaking in Interdependent Networked Game, Scientific Reports 4, 4095 (2014)
 * Dynamics of Cancer Progression, Nature Reviews 4, 197 (2004)

(10:00-12:00@PRPC)
 * July 6, Wednesday **

discussion materials: In order to understand the time-dependent probability P(t) for neoplasia formation within a compartment of N cells, one needs to go back to Chapter 6 and study the evolutionary dynamics with finite populations.
 * 12.1 oncogenes **
 * 12.2 the linear process **

(10:00-12:00@PRPC)
 * July 12, Tuesday **

Even though the linear model seems to catch the essence of biological processes, it is interesting to consider more realistic network structure, bearing more realistic shapes and processes.
 * 12.3 numerical examples **
 * 12.4 tumor suppressor genes **

(10:00-12:00@PRPC)
 * July 20, Wednesday **

Nowadays we already know tumor suppressor genes(TSG) are allele genes, only by deactivating both genes the tumorigenesis sequence could be initiated. The discovery of allele TSG can be dated back to 1970's, genetic scientist Alfred G. Knudson found statistical differences and classified patients into two groups. He came up with two-hit hypothesis to explain result. Neil first presented the simulation result for different population size, Hsiu-Hau pointed out he should not disguise the behaviour of simulation points by plotting them in improper scale. Neil will present next time.
 * 12.4 tumor suppressor genes(part I) **

(10:00-12:00@PRPC)
 * July 27, Wednesday **

We discuss the algorithm to improve the two-hit model calculation, we would like to know how good the approximation made in the textbook could achieve.
 * 12.4 tumor suppressor genes(part II) **

(10:00-12:00@PRPC) Neil presents some simulation results from solving the Fokker-Plank(master equation) equation, the result indicated the wigged behaviours we saw last week from simulation are just false alarm. However, the small time behaviours for all populations showed the universal quadratic scaling.
 * August 10, Wednesday **
 * 12.4 tumor suppressor genes(part III) **

(10:00-12:00@Physics building) Hsiu-Hau coming back from Canada, we talk the neuron network in brain. The experiment of monkey brain implies there is possible collective excitation in brain network.
 * September 10, Saturday **


 * September 17, Saturday **

(10:00-12:00@Physics building)