BioPPN 2012 - International Workshop on Biological Processes & Petri Nets (BioPPN 2012)

Integrative biology, made possible by the spectacular growth of biological information, intends to decipher essential biological processes that are driven by complex mechanisms, involving miscellaneous interacting molecular compounds. In this context, the need for appropriate mathematical and computational modelling tools is widely advocated.
Since about 15 years Petri nets have proved their usefulness for the modelling, analysis, and simulation of a diversity of biological networks, covering qualitative, stochastic, continuous and hybrid models. The deployment of Petri nets to study biological applications has not only generated original models, but has also motivated fundamental research. Indeed, because of their complexity, size and heterogeneity, biological networks raise distinctive challenges to the modeller.
The goal of this workshop is to provide a platform for researchers aiming at such fundamental research and real life applications.
Topics

standard Petri nets for qualitative modelling, if kinetics are unknown or deliberately abstracted;
discrete quantitative modelling by time Petri nets, or stochastic Petri nets to account for intrinsic noise of molecular fluctuation, and/or sources of extrinsic noise;
ordinary differential equations and continuous Petri nets, back and forth;
hybrid Petri nets, or how to handle different abstraction and time scales in biological processes;
case studies of metabolic, signalling, regulatory, and combined networks, or other biological applications;
analysis and simulation techniques, and related tools, including exchange formats, dedicated to biological processes.
Objectives

This workshop intends to gather students and researchers, who have interests in the application of Petri nets for biological processes. Its main goal will be to demonstrate that Petri net can be an effective technique to tackle the issues which reside in many biological problems. The workshop also promotes discussions between advanced researchers and beginners, which may enhance the world-wide activities in Petri net applications on biological processes.