Enabling Large Scale Individual-Based Modelling through High Performance Computing

Abstract

We present a novel large scale parallel computational model allowing 3-D simulations of cell colonies growing and interacting with variable environment. The cells are modelled as individual objects located in the lattice-free 3-D space. The model incorporates cellular environment described in a continuous manner. Discrete and continuous formulations are eficiently coupled in one model allowing considerations of cell colonies composed of up to 109 individual cells. This large scale computational approach enables simulations to be carried out over realistic spatial scales up to 1cm3 in size i.e. the tissue scale.