Building Systems Thinking for Machine Intelligence in Biology and Medicine

Alan Turing's seminal work more than eight decades ago set the stage for the integration of systems thinking and systems science into human endeavors. However, funding and engineering focus in the 1950s narrowed the exploration, resulting in largely reductionist approaches to problem-solving with machine intelligence. While machine intelligence, including AI, machine learning, blockchain, and encryption technologies, has shown remarkable progress in isolation, integration into the broader scientific systems has remained a challenge. Systems biology and systems medicine have made strides in consolidating knowledge within their domains, leveraging these technologies towards a more holistic understanding. Yet, the application of systems thinking to the technology deployed in biology and medicine has been relatively limited.

This research topic therefore aims to highlight the concepts and efforts in applying systems thinking to technology utilized in modern biology and medicine. We invite contributions that offer conceptual frameworks, policies for regulation or promotion, and real-world initiatives that seamlessly blend complex technological systems with existing human systems in biology and medicine. Our focus lies not on isolated algorithms or applications but on the intersection of technology systems with established scientific systems, driving advancements and accelerating progress across the realms of biology and medicine.

Webinar YouTube Link "Building Systems Thinking" with Dr Leroy Hood HERE

Keywords: Systems Biology, Policy, Medicine, Machine Intelligence, Artificial Intelligence

Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.