EvoGamesPlus — Evolutionary games and population dynamics: from theory to applications

Results in brief

Evolutionary games and population dynamics: from theory to applications

EvoGamesPlus training network has aimed at training 15 high-potential Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) in the state-of-the-art of Evolutionary Game Theory (EGT) and its applications in various domains, such as oncology and epidemiology. Through this project, the ESRs (Early-Stage Researchers) have learned to make EGT models more realistic and apply their knowledge to solve real-world problems, often using real data for model validation. The primary research objective of EvoGamesPlus is to expand EGT models, understand structural and dynamical properties of the newly developed models, and apply them in the domains of our interest. To achieve this objective, the project has four key scientific objectives. The first objective is to develop game-theoretical models describing interactions in structured populations. The second objective is to expand the EGT field by including dynamical aspects of evolutionary games. The third objective is to develop game-theoretical models to conceptualize cancer and design evolutionary treatments based on in vitro and in vivo data. The fourth objective is to develop more realistic ecological and epidemiological models to predict and prevent epidemics based on epidemiological data. EvoGamesPlus evolves around training the ESRs, to prepare them for successful career inside and outside academia. To do so, we have provided trainings and secondments from both academic and non-academic parties, and also aimed at multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration between the ESRs, senior scientists, and non-academic experts involved in EvoGamesPlus.

Data: CORDIS, © European Union

Project objective

Evolutionary game theory (EGT) was developed to model biological populations, and the early models had great success in explaining apparently paradoxical biological behaviour. Animal and human populations are complex, however, involving important factors such as social relationships, space and time. Thus whilst EGT is a great tool to conceptualize and understand real-world biological interactions, standard EGT is often too simplistic and therefore insufficient to describe the interactions at hand with a sufficient level of realism.There has thus been a lot of work in developing more realistic models of populations, including by participants in this project, and this is a rapidly growing area. There is a great shortage of, and need for, highly trained and versatile researchers comfortable with the mixture of mathematical modeling, biological knowledge and expertise in computing and the analysis of data. It is rare for undergraduates to be taught all of these skills, and so a significant training focus is needed at PhD level. The development of a strong group of such researchers is at the centre of this proposal, and we have developed a training plan to give them the required expertise in the relevant areas, and their combination.We will pursue 4 research themes, 2 developing methodology and 2 focused on applications. The first concerns the modelling of structured populations, incorporating more realistic spatial and social interactions. The second considers important out of equilibrium dynamical concepts, often neglected in favour of equilibria. The third focuses on the mathematical modelling of cancer and its treatment. Here the two above concepts are especially important. The fourth considers ecological and epidemiological modelling where the focus is on structural complexity relating to the interplay of different timescales and the management and analysis of epidemiological data. Whilst specialising, all ESRs will gain knowledge of all of these important themes.

Original text from CORDIS.

Participants

TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITEIT DELFT · DelftCoordinatorNetherlands
CITY ST GEORGES UNIVERSITY OF LONDON · LONDONUnited Kingdom
HUN-REN OKOLOGIAI KUTATOKOZPONT · BudapestHungary
ISTITUTO PER L'INTERSCAMBIO SCIENTIFICO · TORINOItaly
JIHOCESKA UNIVERZITA V CESKYCH BUDEJOVICICH · Ceske BudejoviceCzechia
MAX-PLANCK-GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER WISSENSCHAFTEN EV · MUNCHENGermany
MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN · WienAustria
QUEEN MARY UNIVERSITY OF LONDON · LONDONUnited Kingdom
SZEGEDI TUDOMANYEGYETEM · SzegedHungary
THE UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL · LIVERPOOLUnited Kingdom
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI TORINO · TorinoItaly
UNIVERSITEIT MAASTRICHT · MaastrichtNetherlands
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORK - NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, CORK · CorkIreland
UNIWERSYTET WARSZAWSKI · WarszawaPoland

EvoGamesPlus · Evolutionary games and population dynamics: from theory to applications

Results in brief

Evolutionary games and population dynamics: from theory to applications

Project objective

Participants

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