Publication Date

Spring 2019

Advisor(s) - Committee Chair

Dr. Schugart Richard (Director), Dr. Thomas Ricmond, and Dr. Ngoc Nguyen

Degree Program

Department of Mathematics

Degree Type

Master of Science

Abstract

System Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disorder that affects many parts of the body including skin, joints, kidneys, brains and other organs. Lupus Nephritis (LN) is a disease caused by SLE. Given the complexity of LN, we establish an optimal treatment strategy based on a previously developed mathematical model.For our thesis work, the model variables are: Immune Complexes (I), Pro-inflammatory mediators (P), Damaged tissue (D), and Anti-inflammatory mediators (A). The analysis in this research project focuses on analyzing therapeutic strategies to control damage using both parameter estimation techniques (integration of data to quantify any uncertainties associated with parameters) and optimal control with the goal of minimizing time spent on therapy for treating damaged tissue by LN.

Disciplines

Biology | Economics | Mathematics

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