We have listed resources for novice to intermediate modelers to learn the basics of modeling and modeling in the Virtual Cell. The resources identified either provide insights to the basics of numerical modeling (the type of models used by the Virtual Cell) or make direct use of the Virtual Cell in tutorials and exercises.

In addition to these textual resources, we that recommend faculty, researchers, and students attend one of the workshops, meetings and courses dedicated to modeling cell biology, Virtual Cell News.

Virtual Cell Quick Start Guide (pdf)

User Guide (release, updated June 2009)

VCell Tutorials

simple FRAP
FRAP with binding
Facilitated Calcium Diffusion
Membrane Potential

FRAP Tutorials - FRAP movie and web based Virtual Cell tutorial

Books

Computational Cell Biology - Christopher P. Fall, Eric S. Marland, John M. Wagner, John J. Tyson.
This textbook provides an introduction to dynamic modeling in cell biology.
Access the VCell Models for Computational Cell Biology

Practical Kinetic Modeling of Large Scale Biological Systems - Robert Phair.
This online text steps you through the philosophy and practice of modeling, from the rationale for modeling to rate laws.

A Cell Biologist's Guide to Modeling and Bioinformatics. - Raquell Holmes.
This book contains a chapter with step by step discussion on creating a spatial calcium model originally published by Fink et. al., 2000. Release Dec. 21, 2007

When You Publish a Virtual Cell Model

We will add your publication to the list of published models associated with the Virtual Cell, submit publication. Just provide us with the citation information and the Virtual Cell username the model was developed under.