6th Workshop on Hybrid Systems & BiologyHSB 2019

The workshop centres on dynamical models in biology, with an emphasis on both hybrid systems (in the classical sense, i.e., mixed continuous/discrete/stochastic systems) and hybrid approaches that combine modelling, analysis, algorithmic and experimental techniques from different areas.

Hybrid systems and approaches are essential to the understanding of complex living systems, which are characterized by stochasticity and heterogeneous (continuous and discrete) spatiotemporal scales. These methods are crucial also for the design and analysis of artificial biochemical systems (e.g., engineered bacteria or molecular machines) and of medical cyber-physical systems such as pacemakers and infusion pumps. The complexity of such models makes their formal analysis challenging, and even their simulations are frequently impractical, calling for appropriate model abstractions and scalable analysis methods.

HSB aims at bringing together researchers from different disciplines interested in applying these methods to the study of structure, dynamics, and control mechanisms of living systems.

Workshop webpage

http://hsb2019.fit.vutbr.cz/

Invited speakers

• Marta Kwiatkowska, University of Oxford (UK)
• Michela Chiappalone, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia of Genova (IT)
• Igor Schreiber, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague (CZ)

In memory of Oded Maler

HSB will have a special session dedicated to the memory of Oded Maler, very much missed member of HSB’s steering committee and one of the founders of the workshop. The session will celebrate his life and scientific contributions with invited talks by:

• Thao Dang, CNRS/VERIMAG, France,
• Eugene Asarin, IRIF, France,
• Alexandre Donzé, Decyphir Inc. and University of California at Berkeley, USA

Accepted Papers

Call for Papers

Topics of interest

HSB is a single-track workshop centring on dynamical models in biology, with an emphasis on both hybrid systems (in the classical sense, i.e., mixed continuous/discrete/stochastic systems) and hybrid approaches that combine modelling, analysis, algorithmic and experimental techniques from different areas.

HSB solicits original research articles, tool papers, posters, and presentations on the modelling and analysis of biological systems. Hybrid dynamical modelling but also other dynamical modelling approaches are equally part of the scope of the workshop. Interdisciplinary contributions, such as combining modelling, analysis, algorithmic and experimental techniques from different areas, are especially welcome.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

• Modelling and analysis of metabolic, signalling, and genetic regulatory networks in living cells.
• Models of tissues, organs, physiological models.
• Models and methods coping with incomplete, uncertain and heterogeneous information including learning for biological systems, parametric synthesis and inference.
• Stochastic and hybrid models in biology.
• Hierarchical systems for multi-scale, multi-domain analysis.
• Abstraction, approximation, discretisation, and model reduction techniques.
• Modelling, analysis and design for synthetic biology, cyber-biological systems and biomedical studies (e.g. therapies, teleoperation).
• Game-theoretical frameworks and population models in biology (e.g. Mixed-Effects and Bayesian modelling).
• Biological applications of quantitative and formal analysis techniques (e.g. reachability computation, model checking, abstract interpretation, bifurcation theory, stability and sensitivity analysis).
• Efficient techniques for combined and heterogeneous (stochastic/deterministic, spatial/non-spatial) simulations for biological models.
• Modelling languages and logics for biological systems, with related analysis and simulation tools.
• Control architectures of biological systems including biology-in-the-loop systems and bio-robotics.

In general, the workshop is open to new theoretical results with potential applications to systems and synthetic biology, as well as novel applications and case studies of existing methods, tools, or frameworks.

HSB 2019 will have informal pre-proceedings available during the workshop. Post-proceedings will be published as a volume in the Springer LNCS/LNBI series, indexed by ISI Web of Science, Scopus, ACM Digital Library, DBLP, and Google Scholar.

A journal special issue is under consideration.

Call for Papers

We solicit high-quality submissions, to be refereed by the Program Committee. Submitted papers will describe original work that has not been previously published and is not under review for publication elsewhere. We accept the following two types of paper submissions:

• regular papers (max 15 pages + max 2 pages of references)
• tool papers (max 6 pages + max 2 pages of references)

Tool papers require the submission of an executable artifact that contains clear instructions for the reviewer on how to run the tool. Submissions can contain a well-marked appendix that is not counted to the page limit. The appendix will not be published in the proceeding and the reviewers are not required to read the appendix and thus the submission must be intelligible without it.

Each accepted paper will have a slot for oral presentation at the workshop.

Format and Submission

Papers should be written in English and have to be formatted in Springer LNCS style. Each submission will be reviewed by at least three reviewers. Papers need to be submitted electronically as PDF files via EasyChair online submission system (coming soon).

Call for Posters

HSB 2019 also solicits poster abstracts presenting original unpublished work. The abstracts must be written in English, formatted in Springer LNCS style and should not exceed 2 pages including references. Poster abstracts should be submitted via EasyChair online submission system. The program committee will select best abstracts for publication in the conference proceedings.

Each accepted poster will also have a slot for a 5-minute flash oral presentation at the workshop.

Previously published work

In addition to original contributions, HSB 2019 invites abstracts for oral and presentation of recent outstanding results already published or accepted for publication in a recognised journal or a high-quality conference during the last year. These non-original contributions will be presented at the workshop but will not be part of the proceedings.