The National Science Foundation Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences awarded the University of California, San Diego $300,000 on December 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to develop mathematical and computational approaches for inferring hidden molecular processes that control cell migration from limited experimental observations.
The project combines mathematical modeling with experimental biology to reconstruct unobserved signaling and cytoskeletal fields from partially observed live-cell imaging data. Constrained neural operator frameworks will enable inference of cellular dynamics that drive coordinated cell behavior during infection response, wound healing, and organ development. The research addresses fundamental challenges in understanding how molecular interactions produce complex cellular behaviors when only a fraction of molecular activity can be directly measured at any time. The methods developed are intended to apply broadly to biological systems constrained by incomplete measurements.
The award supports interdisciplinary training for graduate, undergraduate, and high-school students through research experiences, mentoring, and outreach activities. Performance takes place in La Jolla, California, with a period of performance from December 1, 2026, through November 30, 2028. This is a project grant, an assistance type providing time-limited support for discrete research activities.