Workshop — Chromatin Modeling: Integrating Mathematics, Physics, and Computation for Advances in Biology and Medicine

Though much progress has been made and continues in our understanding of chromatin organization on the disparate length scales, a bridging between modeling and experimentation on the nucleosome and fiber levels with genome studies on the kilo-base level is lacking. New tailored mul- tiscale computational approaches are needed to help interpret the rising volume of experimental data, especially those coming from genome-wide contact data. In addition, many mathemati- cians and physicists are working on relevant problems but there is a gap in resolution between the mathematical biology community which has developed various coarse-graining approaches for chromatin on the fiber bur not chromosome level and the mathematical physics community which studies scaling behavior on the order of chromosomes but cannot incorporate crucial physical parameters on the fiber level. Since important biological applications require an integration from the base-pair level to chromosome and genome wide scales, it is essential that these communities open collaborative approaches between them, as well as interact with the experimental chromatin and medical scientists. Our program aims to bring these scientists together to discuss the current state-of-the-art in chromatin modeling, identify future challenges, and follow them with innovative multiscale, integrative approaches.