Navigation
Mathematical Modelling of Lymphangiogenesis
Between February 2014 and December 2016, I studied lymphangiogenesis (lymphatic development) in the zebrafish embryo under the supervision of Professor Tiina Roose.
I built a reaction-diffusion-convection model to describe the dynamics of VEGFC, MMP2, TIMP2, collagen I, and MT1-MMP in an idealised geometry representing the embryo's trunk; the model consists of 15 partial and ordinary differential equations. Aided by COMSOL Multiphysics, I carried out multiple numerical experiments by solving the model by the finite element method.
After that, I simplified the model to four equations. In order to assess the potential of Turing pattern formation in the embryo, I wrote an algorithm to sample the parametric space of the simplified model.
Based on my results, I proposed a theory about lymphangiogenesis. According to my theory, VEGFC is a morphogen for the precursors of lymphatic endothelial cells, but a different molecule is needed to guide their migration. The patterning function of VEGFC depends on its interactions with collagen I and MMP2.
Here is a presentation about the project: link.
