EMS-TAG-MLS

EMS Topical Activity Group

Mathematical Modelling in Life Sciences

2026

EMS-TAG-MLS Activities

Colloquia

DSABNS 2027 – Dynamical Systems Applied to Biology and Natural Sciences

Dates: 1–5 February 2027 | Location: Budapest, Hungary

DSABNS 2027 will bring together researchers working on dynamical systems and their applications to biology and the natural sciences, providing an opportunity to share ideas and foster collaboration across disciplines.

Registration and abstract submission are now open for Minisymposia, Contributed Talks, and Posters.

The conference will take place at the European Youth Centre Budapest, in the city centre with views of the Hungarian Parliament and the Danube.

More info / Participate: https://dsabns.eu/2027/submission.html

Call for Minisymposia: https://dsabns.eu/2027/minisymposia.html

5th Portuguese Meeting on Biomathematics

Dates: 12–14 October 2026 | Location: University of Coimbra, Portugal

The meeting will bring together researchers working in biomathematics to share ideas, promote discussion, and strengthen the community.

The programme includes 6 plenary talks covering different areas of biomathematics, as well as a short modelling workshop involving research problems presented by experimentalists.

Abstract submissions for contributed talks and posters are open until 7 September 2026. Registration is free.

More info / Participate: https://www.mat.uc.pt/~5epbm/

PRISM – Digital Twins for Personalised Radiotherapy through Integrated Simulation and Modelling

Dates: 18–21 January 2027 | Location: Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy

PRISM is a networking event supported by the European Partnership for Personalised Medicine (EP PerMed), bringing together mathematicians, computational scientists, clinicians, and AI researchers to explore the role of mathematical and computational modelling in developing digital twins for personalised radiotherapy.

The event will focus on the integration of mechanistic models, data-driven methods, and clinical data in precision medicine, strongly aligned with the scientific scope of the EMS Topical Activity Group on Mathematical Modelling in Life Sciences.

Registration is now open.

More info / Participate: https://www.mate.polimi.it/events/PRISM/

9th International Conference on the Virtual Physiological Human (VPH 2026)

Dates: 1-4 September 2026 | Location: Milan, Italy

Within the conference, EMS-TAG member Paolo Zunino is coordinating the In Silico Oncology Track, strongly aligned with the TAG’s scientific scope

More info / Participate: https://vph-conference.org/

Dynamics Days Europe 2026

Dates: 19-24 July 2026 | Location: Lisbon, Portugal

Participation: EMS-TAG members contributed to talks, posters, and workshops on dynamical systems, mathematical biology, and life sciences modeling.

Organization: Led by Chair Maíra Aguiar and other TAG members.

More info / Participate: https://dde-2026.sci-meet.net/

ECMI 2026 – 23rd ECMI Conference on Industrial and Applied Mathematics

Dates: 29 June – 3 July 2026 | Location: Kaunas, Lithuania

Type: Mini-symposium

Description: This mini-symposium will bring together researchers working on mathematical and computational modelling with applications to industry and real-world problems, including members of the EMS-TAG MLS community. Contributions will include invited and contributed talks focusing on recent methodological and practical advancements.

Organization: Organized by Milene Santos, Raghu Krishna Moorthy, and Vivi Rottschäfer.

Relevance to EMS-TAG MLS: The session aligns strongly with the scope of EMS-TAG MLS by promoting interdisciplinary modelling in life sciences within an applied and industrial framework. It fosters collaboration between the EMS-TAG MLS community and the broader industrial and applied mathematics network.

More info / Participate: EMS-TAG MLS members are encouraged to contribute and attend.

EMS-TAG-MLS Colloquium

Date: 23 September 2026
Time: 17:00 CEST (45 min talk + 15 min discussion)
Format: Online (Zoom)

Speaker: Prof. Alberto D’Onofrio

Title: Pseudo-Rational and Irrational Phase Transitions and Unexplicability in Behavioral Epidemiology

Abstract: In the first part of this talk, I will review some results showing that pseudo-rational human behaviour, alone and/or combined with irrationality, can induce phase transitions in simple epidemic models, as well as suppress them. In the second part, we will discuss how a complete lack of explicability does not only affect Machine Learning, but can also arise in a well-known area of classical modelling.

Bio: Alberto D’Onofrio is Associate Professor at the Department of Mathematics, Informatics and Geosciences at the University of Trieste, Italy, where he leads the Computer Science for Complex Systems Laboratory. He received an M.Sc. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Pisa in 1993 and a Ph.D. in Medical Computer Science from Sapienza University of Rome in 2000. He has held research and academic positions at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan, the International Prevention Research Institute in Lyon, and the University of Strathclyde, among others. His research lies at the interface of computer science, statistical physics, and biomedicine. He is a pioneer in the field of behavioral epidemiology of infectious diseases, and his research interests include mathematical and computational modelling of complex biomedical systems.

Connection details will be circulated on the day of the event.

EMS-TAG-MLS Colloquium

Date: 17 June 2026
Time: 17:00 CET (45 min talk + 15 min discussion)
Format: Online (Zoom)

Speaker: Prof. Dr. Anna Marciniak-Czochra

Title: Symmetry breaking and selection of unimodal patterns in a new mechanochemical model of pattern formation

Abstract: In this talk, I will present a mechanochemical, PDE-based framework motivated by recent experiments on regenerating epithelia, with Hydra as a model system. The model couples morphogen reaction-diffusion dynamics with tissue mechanics through a positive feedback loop: mechanical strain enhances morphogen production, while morphogen concentration modulates tissue elasticity. Global strain conservation gives rise to an effective nonlocal inhibitory mechanism, providing a novel mechano-chemical realisation of the local activation-long-range inhibition principle. Within this framework, the model exhibits robust symmetry breaking and the emergence of unimodal spatial patterns. These patterns can be rigorously characterised through a one-dimensional reduction of the system, where their selection and stability follow from bifurcation and stability analysis. In particular, unimodal states are selected, while multimodal configurations are intrinsically unstable, and the system displays regimes of bistability associated with fold bifurcations. Analytical predictions are supported by experimental observations.

Bio: Anna Marciniak-Czochra is a is Professor of Applied Mathematics at Heidelberg University, head of the Applied Analysis and Modelling in Biosciences research group at the Institute for Mathematics and the Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing (IWR), and co-spokesperson of the STRUCTURES Cluster of Excellence. She studied mathematics at the University of Warsaw and obtained her PhD in mathematics from Heidelberg University. Her research focuses on mathematical modelling and analysis of biological systems, including stem cell dynamics, tissue regeneration, cancer evolution, and pattern formation. She develops mathematical methods for modelling self-organisation and structure formation in multicellular systems, combining PDEs, dynamical systems, multiscale and asymptotic analysis with close collaborations with experimentalists and clinicians. She is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Mathematical Biology, an elected member of the Heidelberg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the European Academy of Sciences, and holder of two European Research Council grants.

Connection details will be circulated on the day of the event.

EMS-TAG-MLS Colloquium

Date: 18 March 2026
Time: 17:00 CET (45 min talk + 15 min discussion)
Format: Online (Zoom)

Speaker: Dr. Katerina Kaouri

Title: Modelling Across Scales and Disciplines: From Fertilization and Embryogenesis to Epidemics

Abstract: I will present an overview of a range of data-driven modelling challenges, in collaboration with other disciplines external partners. I will begin with modelling calcium signalling in In-Vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryogenesis, illustrating how multiscale approaches can link molecular dynamics to cellular and developmental outcomes. I will then share our ongoing work on modelling viral transmission in indoor environments, carried out in collaboration with architects and policymakers, with the aim of informing evidence-based policy decisions for future epidemics.

Bio: Katerina Kaouri is a Reader in Applied Mathematics and the Director for Impact and Engagement at the School of Mathematics, Cardiff University. She is from Cyprus and moved to the UK for her studies; she holds a BA in Mathematics from the University of Cambridge and a DPhil(PhD) from the University of Oxford. Katerina has been working on a range of challenges mainly stemming from biology and medicine, in collaboration with other disciplines, clinics, government and society. She is also the co-founder and coordinator of the European Study Groups with Industry in Cyprus (ESGI125, ESGI146). She has also co-founded the non-profit SciCo Cyprus and the Mediterranean Science Festival to communicate science to the public and she was a TEDx Speaker and a TED-Ed educator. Furthermore, she has been involved in large-scale public engagement projects such as the SciShops.eu H2020 project where 18 organisations in 12 EU countries tackled societal challenges through co-creative approaches. During the pandemic she led a modelling team that informed policies of the Welsh Government; she continues working on epidemic preparedness in collaboration with architects and policymakers and is a member of the Policy Modelling Unit of the Welsh Government. She represents the UK in the Councils of the European Consortium of Mathematics in Industry (ECMI) and of EU-Maths-In. She is a member of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the Newton Gateway. She is the recipient of the 2025 IMA Hedy Lamarr Prize for Knowledge Exchange in Mathematics and Its Applications.

Connection details will be circulated on the day of the event.

BIOMAT 2026 - Integrating Mathematical Modeling and Data-Driven Methods for Biological and Medical Sciences

Dates: 15-19 June 2026 | Location: University of Granada, Spain

Type: International Summer School

Description: The twenty-second edition of the BIOMAT International Summer School focuses on the interaction between quantitative model formulation and experimental data analysis in Biology and Medicine. The programme highlights the integration of mechanistic models with complex biological data.

Organization: Coordinated by Tomás Alarcón (ICREA – Centre de Recerca Matemàtica).

Relevance to EMS-TAG MLS:
This school is especially relevant for young researchers in Mathematical Biology who wish to strengthen their skills in combining mathematical modelling with modern data-driven approaches in life and medical sciences.

More info / Participate: https://sites.google.com/go.ugr.es/biomat2026/home

Hypatia 2026 Graduate Summer School

Dates: 8-11 June 2026 | Location: Centre de Recerca Matemàtica, Barcelona

Type: International Summer School

Description: The Hypatia 2026 Graduate Summer School focuses on training participants in key challenges in mathematics and its applications, with an emphasis on the interplay between theory and practice. This edition is devoted to mathematical biology and highlights emerging topics of high scientific relevance.

The programme includes two keynote courses by leading experts and a high-level colloquium, fostering an interactive environment for discussion and critical exchange. In line with Hypatia, the school also promotes a supportive gender perspective, encouraging the participation and advancement of women in mathematics.

Organization: Coordinated by Tomás Alarcón (ICREA – Centre de Recerca Matemàtica).

Relevance to EMS-TAG MLS:
This summer school is particularly relevant for early-career researchers in mathematical biology seeking to deepen their expertise in the interplay between theoretical modelling and applications in life sciences, while engaging with cutting-edge topics and an inclusive research environment.

More info / Participate:

https://www.crm.cat/hypatia-2026/

DSABNS 2026 – 17th International Conference on Dynamical Systems Applied to Biology and Natural Sciences

Dates: 2-6 February 2026 | Location: Granada, Spain

Participation: EMS-TAG members contributed talks, posters, and sessions on mathematical and computational modeling in life sciences.

Organization: Coordinated by Chair Maíra Aguiar and TAG members.

More info / Participate: https://sites.google.com/bcamath.org/dsabns-2026/home

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