Paola Vera-Licona

Our research group works on a variety of problems within the fields of computational systems medicine, computational systems biology, mathematical biology and bioinformatics. We focus on the design and application of mathematical algorithms for the modeling, simulation and control of biological networks such as gene regulatory networks, intracellular signaling networks and functional brain networks. While the mathematical and computational tools we employ are varied, many of the approaches we develop have a flavor of fields such as discrete mathematics (graph theory and combinatorics), algebra, computational algebra as well as machine learning and network science. Mathematical and Computational Biology research interests: Computational Systems Biology of Cancer, reverse-engineering of biological networks, network science, development and application of algorithms for mathematical modeling and analysis of biological networks, and discovery and development of combinations of targeted therapies Mathematics and computer science research interests: mathematical modeling, finite dynamical systems, polynomial dynamical systems, combinatorics, graph theory, computational algebra and machine learning.

[2025] Enterococcus faecalis induces H₂O₂-mediated epithelial cell death and enhances Candida albicans virulence in oropharyngeal candidiasis. Vazquez-Munoz R, Ranjan A, Bertolini M, Thompson A, Mosharaf Ghahfarokhy P, Harnden A, Nobile CJ, Sobue T, Vera-Licona P, Dongari-Bagtzoglou A. mSphere 2025 Dec;11 [2025] Hif-1 responsive IFFLs to explain specific transcriptional responses to cycling hypoxia in cancers Qiu, X., Liu, Y., Vera-Licona, P., Eran A., Kshitiz, Yasir S. npj Syst Biol Appl 2025 Nov;11(136): [2025] Hif-1 responsive IFFLs to explain specific transcriptional responses to cycling hypoxia in cancers. Qiu, Xihua; Liu, Yamin; Vera-Licona, Paola; Agmon, Eran; Kshitiz; Suhail, Yasir NPJ systems biology and applications 2025 Nov;11(1):136 [2024] Oscillatory hypoxia induced gene expre