Exposing readers to some of today's most exciting and progressive research topics, this diverse compilation of case studies illustrates the unifying role of applied mathematics throughout the biological sciences. KEY TOPICS: Written by leaders in the field, the cases demonstrate how successful modelers have used mathematics to answer real biological questions and takes readers step-by-step through the entire analytical process - question, model formulation, analysis, results, testing, and interpretation. It offers a solid foundation in theoretical biology and unifies mathematical, biological and modeling themes, providing useful tools for thought for future projects. Each section concludes with a project and problems and indicates numerous directions for further research and questions.MARKET: For researchers new to mathematical biology.