Computational Systems Biology

Head of Research Group: Prof. Dr. J. Baumbach

The Computational Systems Biology research laboratory at University of Hamburg investigates the molecular mechanisms driving diseases using artificial intelligence methodology and combinatorial optimization. We develop computational methods for Network and Systems Medicine, in particular for mechanotyping and redefining diseases by their mechanistic causes rather than symptoms. Here, we emerge novel ways for drug repurposing and synergistic pharmacology. We also develop privacy-preserving artificial intelligence tools to unleash the power of big data in precision medicine, where sensitive data may not be shared cross-institutionally for prediction model learning. The COVID19 pandemic has demonstrated that the data silo attitude puts massive researchers barriers in our way, which need to be overcome. We thus develop privacy-by-design methods, largely based on federated artificial intelligence, that respect individual privacy while still allowing for big data analytics.