integrative_systems_biology_biologie_intégrative_bio-informatique_manuel_gea_centrale-sante

BMSystems>Profile>Technologies>Generations

Our analytical tools and their evolution

The first generation: Bio-Graph™ (development period: 1998-2001)
This initial integrative plate-form, called “Bio-Graph™” because largely based upon graph theories, was developed over the period 1998-2001. This technology allowed the production of the first biological models of complex human pathologies ever produced (Tamoxifen resistance and Ras-dependent breast cancer partly with the CADI™ prototype). However, this approach was extremely limited on several fronts. The graph approach generated a plethora of fallacious links between information components. It required massive amounts of human intervention at all stages of the analytical process; and While allowing to efficiently analyse at the cellular level, it was woefully inadequate for tasks where different tissues or organs had to be taken into consideration. These limitations spurred a new serie of development.
The second generation: CADI™ (development period: 2001-2003)
To produce this new platform, we took a radical conceptual turn. Although elements of the graph theories were retained, we designed an entirely new analytical platform for information indexing and integration. This gave birth to “CADI™” (Computer-Assisted Deductive Integration), the analytical platform we are currently using. This platform proved considerably more efficient than its predecessor and allowed the production of truly systemic biological models where multiple cell types/ tissues/ organs have to be simultaneously taken into account. Its utilisation allowed to efficiently model complex systemic human disorders such as Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, Hypercholesterolemia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Alzheimer disease, etc… Nevertheless, this analytical platform has still has its limitations. It remains impossible to process information other than in strictly textual formats. As a result, a very large quantity of information, existing under the form of images, charts, cryptic notation, etc…cannot be utilized without considerable human intervention in the model building process. These defects lead us to consider anew the whole rational behind data representation and to take, yet again, a new conceptual leap. As a result, the development of a new series of tools is currently underway.
The Third generation: CADI™ Advanced (Development start: 2005)
The development, is designed to allow format-independent information processing.