I currently have research interests around the broad theme of Complex Systems Science (in particular Cybernetics), with specific focus on the Operational Research of Health and Illness (both hard and soft approaches), and Computational Social Systems. Particular emphasis is currently applied to the use of computational, mathematical and statistical approaches to understand how to harness the complexity that arises in large multi-vendor Enterprise Systems implementations. This is because, without a clear understanding of the emergent behaviours of large projects, it is difficult to predict the likelihood of successful implementation.

The transcription factor NF-kB is a biological component which is central to the regulation of genes involved in the innate immune system. Dysregulation of the NF-kB signalling pathway is known to be involved in a large number of inflammatory diseases, including arthritis and atherosclerosis, and more recently has been associated with various cancers. Although considerable research has been performed since discovery in 1986, we are still not in a position to control the signalling pathway, and thus limit effects of NF-kB within the promotion of inflammatory diseases.

This PhD research project utilised computational modelling and simulation approaches to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the role of NF-kB in promotion of inflammatory diseases. I took a principled approach to design and development of an agent-based model using the FLAME simulation framework, which focused at the level of single cell data.