Domenico Gatti, M.D., Ph.D., displays a graphic from "Foundations of Computational Biology with MATLAB."
Computational methods, including the development of individual databases of medical information capable of personalizing therapeutic approaches and other applications, are becoming progressively more valuable in health care and basic research. Wayne State University School of Medicine Associate Professor of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry Domenico Gatti, M.D., Ph.D., expects advanced computational tools like Matrix Laboratory, or MATLAB -- and free clones such as Octave -- will lead to automated diagnostic tools, including interpretation of electrocardiograms, radiologic tests, blood tests and histopathology tests.
"These automated tools, based on the principles of machine learning and implemented via complex neural networks, are now equaling, if not surpassing, human performance in many cases," he said. "We can foresee that in a not-so-distant future we will discuss our medical problems with (Amazon's) 'Alexa,' which will in return recommend specific tests or prescribe medicines. All of this will be the result of the quiet working in the background of advanced computational methods, whose application to medicine is only now coming of age."
The technology could lead to automated analysis of the huge amount of information originating from the sequencing of the transcriptomes of different human cell types; development of mathematical models of metabolism in different cell types and/or organs, which can be used to identify drug target and/or correct metabolic dysfunctions; and mathematical models of how the brain works, how networks of neurons carry out specific tasks, and ultimately lead to the emergence of consciousness, Dr. Gatti added.
Or, to analogize another current tech behemoth, think of it as the health version of Netflix - the more the app (or machine) records what a viewer is watching, the better the likelihood that the viewer will have a positive experience (better health) in the future.
And a free, open source book is now available to teach the technology. Dr. Gatti's "Foundations of Computational Biology with MATLAB" was published at www.MathWorks.com. The 800-page book is a web-based, expanded version of the Advanced Course of Computational Biology course (IBS 7140) he teaches at the school.
Historically, the course has been taken by students with a strong mathematical background from Chemistry, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, Psychology and the Translational Neuroscience Program.
The new book includes a syllabus, 21 chapters, 17 MATLAB and SimBiology practice assignments, MATLAB scripts and Functions, six toolboxes for applications described in the book, and two tutorials on enzymatic and metabolic simulations. It breaks down the use of MATLAB, which is introduced and progressively developed as a programming and visualization tool in a variety of applications. They include data analysis, simulation and the development of complex mathematical models in biology.
The course was selected to be available in its entirety (notes and programs) for free download on the MATHWORKS Courseware site, which features courses from top mathematicians, engineers and physicists in the country and worldwide.
The course is listed in the section devoted to Bioengineering and Biological Sciences.