Systemic Health: Bridging Systems Thinking and Systems Biology for Integrated Understanding of Health and Disease

Health and disease are not only defined by biological states; they represent the emergent properties of intricate, multi-scale systems incorporating genetics, physiology, behavior, environment, culture, and social structures. Even with advancements in molecular biology and precision medicine, the fragmentation of knowledge across various disciplines hinders efforts to address the root causes of diseases and promote overall health. While systems biology has significantly progressed in integrating biological data to uncover causal mechanisms, its impact can be increased by adopting a broader systems thinking approach. This includes insights from systems science, complexity theory, and holistic models of human activity.Systems thinking provides both conceptual and practical frameworks, enabling an understanding of health not as a mere physiological state but as a dynamic equilibrium within individuals, populations, and ecosystems. By employing concepts such as feedback loops, resilience, and path dependency, systems thinking facilitates a more comprehensive assessment and intervention approach for individual and societal health, paving the way for improved outcomes. As an example, the General Human Activity System (GHAS), provides a meta-framework to understand how purpose, values, identity, and behaviour interact with structure and context to produce either system vitality or dysfunction.This Research Topic aims to merge systems biology with systems thinking and systems science, urging contributions that explore innovative health models, multi-level diagnostics, early-warning indicators of systemic breakdown, and strategies for regenerative and adaptive health systems on a broader scale. By fostering collaboration across disciplines, we aspire to develop novel methodologies and interventions reflecting the complexity of human health across biological, psychological, social, and ecological domains.To gather further insights in bridging systems biology and systems thinking, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:• Transdisciplinary models integrating systems biology with social and ecological determinants of health• Applications of system dynamics, complexity theory, or relational holon theory in health system design• Case studies using systems approaches to manage chronic illness, mental health, or epidemic response• The use of digital tools and augmented intelligence to support systemic diagnostics and interventions• Early warning indicators of systemic breakdown or resilience in health systems• The ethics of systems-informed healthcare, including planetary health and intergenerational equity• The GHAS (General Human Activity System) as a framework for modelling health and disease at multiple scales• Reflections on the limitations of reductionist biomedical models and the need for systemic alternatives• Integrative reviews of systems methodologies in public health, healthcare delivery, and precision medicineWe accept a diverse range of article types such as original research, reviews, methodologies, case studies, and perspectives. Contributions tied to the 2025 ISSS Conference, particularly those in the Systems Thinking and Healthcare tracks, are especially welcomed. Topic editors: Gary Smith, Deeanna Burleson Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78449/systemic-health-bridging-systems-thinking-and-systems-biology-for-integrated-understanding-of-health-and-disease