The Influenza Paradox: When Biomarkers Mislead and Models Reveal the Biology

Amber Smith examines immune mechanisms underlying respiratory infections using mechanistic mathematical models combined with multimodal data. Using influenza, the seminar shows how models can expose biological processes that measurements alone do not reveal, explain why similar biomarker profiles can reflect different disease states, and improve predictions of outcomes. The approach links otherwise inaccessible mechanisms to a foundation for predictive, mechanism-based precision medicine.