Modules for Reusable and Collaborative Modelling of Biological Mathematical Systems

Mathematical models are frequently used to model biological processes, such as cardiac electrophysiological systems. Newer models are derived both from new data obtained from physiological experiments and research into existing models. This is a collaborative process, dependent on information from a variety of sources derived in an interdisciplinary manner. We suggest that the model development process may be made easier, and help facilitate collaborative modelling, through the use of domain specific languages. In this paper we utilise such a language for describing mathematical biological models comprised from ODEs. The language implements a flexible module system used to abstract common functionality into reusable components, this is used to create a validated modular model repository for fostering collaborative development. We create a repository of modularized cardiac electrophysiological models - enabling the independent, iterative development, reuse and modification of module components when creating models. Several use-cases are given, such as facilitating the collaborative development of more complex, integrative, biological models.