Parameter estimation of systems with delays via structural sensitivity analysis

This article presents a method for sensitivity analysis of non-linear continuous-time models with delays and its application to parameter estima- tion. The method is universal and may be used for sensitivity analysis of any system given as a block diagram with arbitrary structure and any number of delays. The method gives sensitivity functions of model trajectories with re- spect to all model parameters, including delay times, and both forward and adjoint sensitivity analysis may be performed. Two examples application of the method are presented: identi-cation of a Wiener model with delay and identification of a model of JAK-STAT cell signal transduction mechanism.