Can biologists and mathematicians accomplish more together than working separately? My answer to that question has always been a resounding yes but today I am backing up that statement with a piece of research: the result of a collaboration involving mathematicians and biologists (and a pathologist) in Tampa, Nashville and Houston.

Basanta, D., Strand, D., Lukner, R., Franco, O., Cliffel, D., Ayala, G., Hayward, S., & Anderson, A. (2009). The Role of Transforming Growth Factor- -Mediated Tumor-Stroma Interactions in Prostate Cancer Progression: An Integrative Approach Cancer Research, 69 (17), 7111-7120 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-3957

The paper, of which I am one of the authors, studies the role of stromal-tumour interactions in prostate cancer progression. It introduces a computational model, developed as a result of extensive conversations with Vanderbilt’s Hayward Lab and the results have led to interesting biological experiments and observations of relevance in pathology. Hope you guys will find it an interesting read.