The Centre for Plant Integrative Biology (CPIB) at the University of Nottingham aims to create a virtual root which will serve as an exemplar for using Integrative Systems Biology (ISB) to model multi-cellular systems. CPIB is jointly funded by the BBSRC and EPSRC as part of their Systems Biology Initiative to establish a number of Centres for Integrative Systems Biology.

CPIB brings together biologists, engineers, mathematicians and computer scientists to generate new data, biological resources and virtual models of plant roots that will aid understanding of how they grow and develop. The Nottingham Centre will integrate advanced experimental and imaging approaches with innovative mathematical, engineering and computer science research in collaboration with Rothamsted Research and several international groups.

Initially focussing on the model plant Arabidopsis, we plan to develop the research into crop species. CPIB researchers ultimately aim to integrate our virtual root with other international projects that model shoot development, leading to a generic computer model of a plant which will be used to advance crop and plant science.

We plan to stage a variety of meetings, workshops and conferences so that others can learn how to produce and use integrative models of their own biological systems.