About Systems Biology Ireland
Our mission, expertise and impact
About Us
Systems Biology Ireland (SBI) is a leading research center at University College Dublin, distinguished by its in-house expertise in both experimental and computational biology. SBI’s team of systems biologists are uniquely trained to work across disciplines, integrating complex datasets and interpreting biological systems with a deep understanding of disease mechanisms. By leveraging advanced approaches such as Digital Twins, SBI creates dynamic, predictive models of biological processes that facilitate the translation of research findings into clinical applications. This multidisciplinary expertise allows SBI to excel in key areas such as cancer, cell signaling, and personalised medicine, driving forward innovative therapeutic strategies. SBI’s focus on applying cutting-edge methods to real-world disease challenges positions it as a vital contributor to biomedical research, with strong collaborations spanning academic, clinical, and industry sectors on both a national and global scale.
The centre has expertise in:
- Drug target and biomarker discovery
- Patient stratification and sub-population characterisation
- Combination therapy prediction and screening
- Protein-Protein interaction profiling
- Computational network inference and modelling
- Dynamic mechanistic disease models
SBI Mission
To use systems biology approaches to advance personalised medicine -- experimental and theory under one roof.
Leading in:
- Biological network analysis
- Cancer and inflammation signalling
- Cross-disciplinary training
Impact
Since 2009, SBI investigators have published more than 580 research and review articles in journals with an average impact factor of 7.0. Over this same period, the group has identified and validated numerous new and promising therapeutic targets for treatment of breast cancer, melanoma, neuroblastoma, and colorectal cancer.
What is Systems Biology?
The communication networks inside the human body are incredibly complex with millions of cells constantly ‘talking’ to each other. Occasionally, these communication networks can break down or messages can misfire leading to diseases such as cancer.
Deciphering how cells ‘talk’ to each other is the task of systems biology. SBI researchers apply mathematics and computer science to enormous data sets arising from biological techniques.