PRINCIPLES AND PHILOSOPHY OF MODELING IN BIOMEDICAL-RESEARCH

Despite widespread applications in biomedical research, the role of mo dels and modeling is often controversial and ill understood, It is usu al to find that fundamental definitions, axioms, and postulates used i n the modeling process have become tacit assumptions, What is essentia l, however, is a clear vision of the fundamental principles of modelin g, This is even more compelling for new and emerging interdisciplinary fields that use techniques from previously separate scientific discip lines, This article outlines and reviews the central nature and philos ophy of modeling, the rules that govern it, and its underlying key int egral relationship to the 'scientific method', A comprehensive underst anding of these issues is indispensable to successful research and mea ningful progress in all facets of biomedicine.