Abstract
The Physiome projects comprise a loosely knit worldwide effort to define the Physiome through databases and theoretical models, with the goal of better understanding the integrative functions of cells, organs, and organisms. The projects involve developing and archiving models, providing centralized databases, and linking experimental information and models from many laboratories into self-consistent frameworks. Increasingly accurate and complete models that embody quantitative biological hypotheses, adhere to high standards, and are publicly available and reproducible, together with refined and curated data, will enable biological scientists to advance integrative, analytical, and predictive approaches to the study of medicine and physiology. This review discusses the rationale and history of the Physiome projects, the role of theoretical models in the development of the Physiome, and the current status of efforts in this area addressing the microcirculation.
Acknowledgements
The research was supported by NIH/NIBIB grant EB001973 for the development of JSim and NSF grant BES-0506477 for the multiscale modeling.