Systems Biology and Health Systems Complexity

Systems biology addresses interactions in biological systems at different scales of biological organization, from the molecular to the cellular, organ, organism, societal, and ecosystem levels. This chapter expands on the concept of systems biology, explores its implications for individual patients through a description of the work of Dr. Leroy Hood and his colleagues at the Institute for Systems Biology. It presents the broader social implications through a review of the efforts of Dr. Peter M. A. Sloot and his colleagues at the Health Systems Complexity Program in Singapore. The chapter considers criticisms of the systems approach and the implications for the Digital Patient. Mathematical simulations associated with systems biology and integrative physiological modeling is primarily used in hypothesis testing and experimental design; however, mathematical simulations and integrative models could also be utilized more fully in medical and health professions education.