ProfessorReiko Tanaka

Our research aims to understand the design principles of biological control systems. What are the key regulatory mechanisms for human life and holobionts - amalgams of multicellular hosts and their microbial passengers?

We develop and apply computational/mathematical tools, including mechanistic modelling, statistical modelling, AI, machine learning, and computer vision, to achieve this ambitious goal. The ability of biological control systems far exceeds that of many conventionally designed engineering systems. An intrinsic understanding of the essential design principles of biological control systems may require new notions and a new theory for biological control.

We are specifically interested in the roles of the epithelial barrier, the interface between a host and environment, in several diseases such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), asthma and lung fungal infection. What are the fundamental regulatory mechanisms whose malfunctioning determines healthy or disease states? How can we predict the behaviour of dynamical systems in disease states? How can we prevent disease and design effective treatment?

Please visit our group website: https://www.rtanakagroup.com