My scientific and research activities in the USA are based on the intellectual and scientific foundation that I accumulated during previous 30-year's period. This potential was accumulated in the high technologies and other areas defining development of community, such areas as natural, industrial, and social environments. Solution of the arising problems in the mentioned areas suggested the application of systems analysis and development of recommendations on rational interaction among industrial, natural, and social processes.

I have significant experience in interdisciplinary areas including: 

After accumulating some broad experience, I have started to analyze the possibility to unify the design of computer systems and application of appropriate simulation models for these purposes. I have generalized my experience and conducted additional theoretical studies. As a result, I have developed a Simulation-Based Design Methodology for Environmental and Geophysical Information Systems.

 I continue pursuing some of the previous directions of my interdisciplinary research, and I also established some new areas of my research activities. Among them: computer systems architecture assessment, sustainable development and global warming problems, biological and health care simulation, simulation of clinical trials.

Computer systems architecture assessment

I continue my previous research in computer systems architecture assessment area. I received a grant “Simulation and Architecture Assessment Methods in a Class of Multifunction (Complex) Computer Systems” to support my research in 2003. Within the frameworks of this research project I analyzed: a) environment and functionality of multifunctional complex computer systems; b) some models, techniques, and tools that are used in computer systems development; c) model hierarchy in correlation to model description of computer systems process; d) objectives of the design method for complex computer systems with a rational architecture in restricted conditions; e) theoretical foundation of model representation for objects, processes and complex computer systems.

I presented the results of my latest research in the computer systems architecture area: a) at the “38th Southeastern Symposium on System Theory” (SSST’06), (affiliated with IEEE) on March 5-7, Cookeville, Tennessee, USA. 2006 and published (after a peer review) a related paper “Formal Architectural Analysis of Complex Computer Systems” in the proceedings of this Symposium; b) presentation “A Set of Models for Assessment of Distributed Computing Systems” at the USP Scholarly Day 2005; c) at the International Conference “Pervasive Computing and Communications” (PCC’04), Las Vegas, Nevada, USA, June 21-24, 2004 and published (after a peer review) a related paper “A Hierarchical Approach to Formalization of Distributed Computing Environments” in the proceedings of this International Conference.

 Sustainable development and global warming problems

I continue my previous research in sustainable development and global warming areas. I presented and published in the conference proceedings (after a peer review) the results of my latest research in these areas at two international conferences: a) A. Kurkovsky. “Simulation Methodology and Business Process Reengineering Models for The Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading within the Kyoto Protocol” at the International Conference “Applied Simulation and Modelling” (ASM’05), Benalmadena, Spain. June 15-17, 2005; b) A. Kurkovsky. “Simulation in the Analysis of Sustainable Development: Goals, Planning, and Evaluation” at “The 4th International Conference on “Modelling, Simulation, and Optimization (MSO’04)”, Kauai, Hawaii, USA, August 17-19, 2004.

Several advanced students were involved in this research. In 2006, under my scientific supervision they conducted a research project “Simulation of Government Response to Natural, Industrial, and Terrorist Disasters”.

 Biological and health care simulation and information systems

In the Fall of 2002 I have been asked to analyze the dynamics of a community of cells by means of an outside stimulation. The cell dynamics were described in the form of a differential equation and therefore I used a continuous simulation approach to analyze it. My previous experience was related to discrete simulation but I solved this continuous simulation problem by using SIMULINK environment from MATLAB software. I received a grant “Analysis of Prospective Areas of Collaborative Research Using Simulation Modeling at USP” to support my research in 2004. The results of this research may be divided into three large components: 1) elements of simulation methodology, 2) possible levels and organizational frameworks of collaborative research, and 3) applied simulation in biological and health care areas. In the frameworks of this research I reviewed and analyzed: a) The existing types of simulation models, our approach to formalize the actual subject domain within the four levels of model hierarchy, and elements of the trade-off analysis; b) The subject domain of health policy as a potential area of simulation-based collaborative research at USP; c) The bioinformatics subject domain as a potential area of simulation-based collaborative research at USP; d) The models and functional architecture of the biological system levels, simulation environment (Dynetica) for modeling of biochemical networks, and simulation for analyses of DNA microarray results.

A number of students were involved in this research. Under my scientific supervision they conducted research projects: a) “Simulation of Philadelphia Hospital’s Health Policy”, 2006; b) “Computer Systems Analysis in Healthcare”, 2004.

Simulation methods for pharmaceutics

The results of this research could be divided into two large components: first, a specific subject domain (clinical trials process), and second, simulation modeling methods for research in a specific subject domain. In the frameworks of this research I reviewed and analyzed: a) The area of a new drug development process and the role of FDA in the process, some principles of good clinical practice and clinical trials are described; b) The main components and techniques of clinical trials. Clinical trials are considered as a scientific experience, described as a one-factor and two-factors clinical trials design, the place of the clinical trials protocol is shown; c) Management practices of clinical trials. Clinical trials development, conduct, cost and the main players are presented; d) Materials about the modern approach to clinical trials. The place of modern information technologies for some clinical trials is shown and some actual clinical trials simulation software packages are described. Initial approaches to clinical trials simulation modeling for phase III are proposed; e) The General Considerations for Clinical Trials; f) Diseases and Body System Classification, Clinical Trial Protocol, Simulation in Drug Development: Good Practices.

Several advanced students were involved in this research. Under my scientific supervision they conducted these research projects: a) “Conceptual Simulation Model of Drug, Disease and Disease modulators’ Effects on Transport and Permeability Properties of the Blood Brain Barrier”, 2006; b) “Range Assessment of Simulation Model Parameters for Clinical Trials Phase III: Successful Clinical Results”, 2003; c) “Range Assessment of Simulation Model Parameters for Clinical Trials Phase III: Unsuccessful Clinical Results”, 2003; d) “Information Flows for Clinical Trials Phase III: Body Systems and Drug Classification, Patients Sample Size Estimation, Blinding and Randomization”, 2002.