Kathryn G. Link

Kathryn G. Link

I am on the job market and in my final year of the Mathematical Biology Research Program at the University of Utah. Here is a copy of my curriculum vitae.

GENERAL RESEARCH INTERESTS: My research interests include the development and analysis of mathematical models and computational tools for problems at the intersection of fluid dynamics, biology, and transport in porous media. I am currently interested in understanding the phenomenon of blood clotting and more specifically immunothrombosis, defined as the crosstalk between coagulation and innate immunity. To investigate this intersection of biological processes, Aaron L. Fogelson, Ph.D and myself have developed two ordinary differential equation (ODE) models that capture both biochemical and biophysical dynamics of the hemostatic system and a key player in innate immunity, the complement system. We are also interested in the role leukocytes play in platelet aggregation. Our particle-continuum platelet-leukocyte aggregation model is currently being developed along with the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) required for simulation.

FLOW-MEDIATED HEMOSTASIS IN AN EXTRAVASCULAR INJURY: We are in the process of validating our mathematical model of platelet deposition in an extravascular injury that incorporates platelet function and the effects of flow through an extravascular injury with an analogous partial differential equation (PDE) model and an in vitro MFA. This communication of models is a result of collaboration with both Karin Leiderman, Ph.D and Keith Neeves, PhD at the Colorado School of Mines, where our work is contributing to a systems biology approach to identifying bleeding risk factors for hemophilia and von Willebrand disease.

IDENTIFYING BIOMARKERS OF HEMOPHILIA: To further these efforts, our group including Suzanne Sindi, PhD, conducted local sensitivity analyses (LSA) and a variance-based global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of a mathematical model of coagulation and platelet deposition under flow for normal blood and identified markers and modifiers of robust thrombin generation. Using a similar approach, we utilized GSA results to identify coagulation factor V (FV) as a modifier of thrombin generation in hemophilia A. The mathematical model proposed a biochemical mechanism explaining low FV-mediate thrombin generation in FVIII-deficient blood and both in vitro MFA experiments and in vivo thrombin generation assays provided by Jorge DiPaola, MD and his group confirmed this prediction. This unexpected result provides an excellent example of the potential of mathematical models making predictions in complex biological networks.

INITIATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE PATHWAY OF THE COMPLEMENT SYSTEM: We have developed one of the first mathematical models of fluid-phase activation of the alternative pathway of the complement system that has been partially validated by experimental data. We intend to extend this model to include membrane-associated reactions with the help of John Morser, PhD.

Publications

I have authored 7 journal articles.

K.G. Link, M.T. Stobb, M.G. Sorrells, M. Bortot, K. Ruegg, M. J. MancoJohnson, J.A. Di Paola, S.S. Sindi, A.L. Fogelson, K. Leiderman, K.B. Neeves, “A mathematical model of flow-mediated coagulation identifies factor V as a modifier of thrombin generation in hemophilia A.” Journal of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (2019), Accepted Author Manuscript. https://doi.org/10.1111/jth.14653 .

K.G. Link, M.T. Stobb, J.A. Di Paola, K.B. Neeves, A.L. Fogelson, S.S. Sindi,K. Leiderman, “A local and global sensitivity analysis of a mathematical model of coagulation and platelet deposition under flow.” PLOS ONE (2018), 13(7):e0200917. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0200917.

H.T. Banks, S. Hu, K. Link, E.S. Rosenberg, S. Mitsuma, and L. Rosario, “Modeling Immune Response to BK Virus Infection and Donor Kidney in Renal Transplant Recipients.” Inverse Problems in Science & Engineering (2016), 24(1):127-152. https://doi.org/10.1080/17415977.2015.1017484.

H.T. Banks, B.E. Banks, K. Link, J.A. Rosenheim, C. Ross, and K.A. Tillman, “Model Comparison Tests to Determine Data Information Content.”Applied Mathematical Letters (2015),43,10-18, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aml.2014.11.002 .

H.T. Banks, D.F. Kapraun, K.G. Link, W.C. Thompson, C. Peligero, J. Argilaguet, A. Meyerhans, “Analysis of Variability in Estimates of Cell Proliferation Parameters for Cyton-Based Models Using CFSE-Based Flow Cytometry Data.” Journal of Inverse and Ill-posed Problems (2014), 23(2) 135-171, https://doi.org/10.1515/jiip-2013-0065.

T. Huffman, K. Link, J. Nardini, L. Poag, K. Flores, H.T. Banks, B. Blasco, J. Jungfleisch, J. Diez, “A Mathematical Model of RNA3 Recruitment in the Replication Cycle of Brome Mosaic Virus.” International Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics (2013), 89(2) 251-274, https://doi.org/10.12732/ijpam.v92i1.3 .

H.T. Banks, S. Hu, M. Joyner, A. Broido, B. Canter, K. Gayvert, K. Link, “A comparison of computational efficiencies of stochastic algorithms in terms of two infection models.” Mathematical Biosciences & Engineering (2011), 9(3) 487-526.https://doi.org/10.3934/mbe.2012.9.487.

K.G. Link, N.A. Danes, M.G. Sorrells, K. Leiderman, K.B. Neeves, A.L. Fogelson. “A mathematical model of platelet aggregation in an extravascular injury and the effects of soluble agonist ADP-dependent activation.” Biophysical Journal. In preparation.

Conferences & Workshops

I have attended multiple conferences and workshops involving mathematical biology and blood research. Feel free to explore the links below.

Teaching & Outreach

While being a graduate student at the University of Utah in the mathematics department, I have had the privilege to be the lead instructor for undergraduate courses. Click on the links below to see the syllabus for the respective course (additional information can be found on Canvas for enrolled students). To see my teaching evaluations, CLICK HERE. I have also had the opportunity to be involved in many service and outreach opportunities including graduate and high school, undergraduate, and graduate student affairs.

Contact Me

My office is LCB 317, and if the door is open, come in and chat! If I am not in the office, email is the best way to reach me.

Email: link "at" math "dot" utah "dot" edu

Phone: (801) 585-1635

LeRoy Cowles Building (LCB), Building #013, Rm. 317