Multiscale and Multiphase Models of Tissue Growth, Remodelling and Mechanics

Understanding biological tissue growth and mechanics is of fundamental importance to a wide range of diseases and biomedical applications. In this talk I will attempt to summarise (too briefly, probably) an optimistically large set of continuum-mechanical modelling approaches and experimental investigations that aim to shed light on some of these processes in the context of tissue engineering and asthma. The former refers to techniques where tissue is grown in vitro for implantation, or stimulated in vivo at the injury site; the latter is multi-phenotypic disease varying in severity, and underpinned by inflammation, airway contraction, and airway remodelling. The mathematical and computational approaches exploit multiphase modelling, hyperelastic soft tissue mechanics, and asymptotic homogenisation and model reduction approaches, while experimental approaches include with 3D printing, in vitro cell culture, and mechanical testing and image analysis of data from experiments in mice.