ABSTRACT
The principles of systems biology, as recently described by Dr. Leroy Hood of the Institute of Systems Biology, define a process of research that requires us to rethink our now obsolete definition of systems biology: systems biology is more than the mere application of informatic technologies to biological research. According to Dr. Hood, the process that defines systems biology must be hypothesis driven, quantitative, integrative, dynamic, and global (in the sense that it employs all relevant data in a unified and coherent theoretical structure). One discipline that has emerged as a primary contributor to these efforts is the mathematical modeling of dynamic biological systems, especially in the context of human disease. As with any new and novel research strategy, the ultimate utility of systems biology will be measured by its ability to solve real-world problems in medical research. One such problem is the identification and validation of drug targets in pharmaceutical research.
