italian version

Aims :

The aim is to provide knowledge of basic processes of model formulation, identification and validation as applicable to metabolic and endocrine systems.

Topics :

Bioengineering: definition and aims. The modelling process in Bioengineering. The purposes of modelling metabolic and endocrine systems. Compartmental models: basic concepts and mathematical representation. Strictly compartmental models, linear time-invariant models and control system models. Model identification and validation. Theoretical (a priori) identifiability and its relation to experimental design. Small-signal perturbation and tracer perturbation. Identifiability of linear compartmental systems: the transfer function approach. The GLOBI2 software. Parameter estimation and practical (a posteriori) identifiability: basic concepts. Glucose metabolism. Metabolic syndrome, insulin-resistance and diabetes mellitus. Methods for quantitative evaluation of insulin-sensitivity. The minimal model of glucose kinetics and its applications in clinics for estimation of insulin sensitivity and glucose effectiveness from IVGTT (Intravenous Glucose Tolerance Test) data. The interactive educational “virtual diabetes patient” simulation software named AIDA.

Textbooks :

Cobelli C., Bonadonna R. (Ed.) Bioingegneria dei Sistemi Metabolici. Bologna: Patron, 1998.
Carson E.R., Cobelli C., Finkelstein L. The Mathematical Modeling of Metabolic and Endocrine Systems. New York, Wiley, 1983.
Biondi E. Introduzione all’Ingegneria Biomedica. Bologna: Patron, 1997.
Biondi E., Cobelli C. (Ed.). Storia della Bioingegneria. Bologna: Patron, 2001.
http://www.2aida.net/aida/review.htm
Lecture notes.

Exam :

Students undergo a written examination. Oral examination is optional for candidates who are willing to modify the mark got in their written test, on condition that this mark is not lower than 18/30.

Tutorial Session :

Tuesday: 9.00 – 12.00