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REVIEW:
What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?
An expert in communications theory will cogitate ways in which ideas from his field can yield new insights into how cell signaling operates. In particular, he will focus on how concepts in communications theory apply to morphogenesis, such as to the idea of morphogenetic gradients as mechanisms for specifying structure and form. More generally, the project will attempt to characterize the 'capabilities and limitations of information transfer within multi-cellular systems.'
The proposal explains how models of cell-cell communication map onto ideas in communications theory. The PI argues that 'pursuing a communications-theoretic approach to biological signaling' offers some advantages. One such advantage appears to be the ability to characterize information flow between cells without needing to know the precise biological and chemical nature of the signal transmission mechanism.
The PI states that 'communications theory may illuminate the surprising robustness observed in most developing systems' and will lead to new understanding of how tissues and other organized community of cells maintain integrity in the face of environmental insults.
The proposal argues that chemical signaling in multi-cellular systems is a form of 'inscribed-matter communication' that communications theory can demonstrate is 'stunningly more energy-efficient than electromagnetic (or acoustic) methods.' The PI presents some results investigating this idea further, focusing on how a signal decreases concentration following transmission through a 'diffusion channel.'
The PI also proposes to consider cells as routers and relay channels, explaining that the idea of a cell being able to receive a signal and then route information in 'spatially distinct waysàseems an interesting line of research to pursue.'
This latter quotation from the proposal exemplifies the PI's overall approach. The PI proposes to continue exploring developmental biology in a thoughtful and attentive way, always on the alert for ways that information theory can explain and inform basic problems in developmental biology. The proposal itself demonstrates the PI's ability to carry out this scholarly endeavor.
The application appears to build on some of the goals outlined in an NSF SGER grant 'Communications Theory & Multicellular Biology' also awarded to PI Rose and co-PI Mian at LBL.
What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?
The proposal does not conform to the usual format of grant applications submitted by researchers in cell biology, but perhaps is closer in format to proposals submitted by others in the PI's field. As a result, it is hard to judge the impact this work will have on cell biology, since it seems to follow a non-traditional project trajectory.
The PI plans to immerse himself in the daily lab practice of cell biology during a summer mini-sabbatical. It might be a good idea to expand this to the regular school year, if possible. As a newcomer to cell biology, he may run the risk of drifting into fringe areas that would condemn his contribution to irrelevance. Rather than just spend a few weeks in the summer working in a biology lab, he should consider ways he could increase his exposure to the practice, thinking, and intellectual frameworks of cell and developmental biology. One key to success could be for the PI to identify an experimental system that is particularly well-suited to the information theory approach, i.e., a system that is well-enough understood to provide the PI with stimulating problems and observations and allow experimental validation of his ideas.
The PI's exploration of cell biology could have a strong positive impact on communications theory as it could open up new areas for this discipline to address.
Outreach: PI Rose and co-PI Mian propose to create new classes covering communication theory and biological applications of communication theory. Rose plans to do 'mini-sabbaticals' during the summers in the laboratories of developmental biologists in order to 'gain first experience with modern experimental cellular biological techniques.' By working in the same space with biology students, he aims to 'infect young biologists with formal communications theory concepts.'
Summary Statement
The PI proposes to apply his expertise in communications theory to understanding cell-cell communication. Finding some-one closer to home to provide an experimental perspective might help to increase the project's potential impact on biological research.
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