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Virtual Physiological Human

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The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) is a methodological and technological framework that, once established, will enable collaborative investigation of the human body as a single complex system [1] [2]. The collective framework will make it possible to share resources and observations formed by institutions and organizations creating disparate, but integrated computer models of the mechanical, physical and biochemical functions of a living human body.

The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) is a framework which aims to be descriptive, integrative and predictive [3] [4]:

  • Descriptive. The framework should allow observations made in laboratories, hospitals and the field, at a variety of locations situated anywhere in the world, to be collected, catalogued, organized, shared and combined in any possible way.
  • Integrative. The framework should enable experts to analyse these observations collaboratively and develop systemic hypotheses that involve the knowledge of multiple scientific disciplines.
  • Predictive. The framework should make it possible to interconnect predictive models defined at different scales, with multiple methods and varying levels of detail, into systemic networks that solidify those systemic hypotheses; it should also make it possible to verify their validity by comparison with other clinical or laboratory observations.

The framework is formed by large collections of anatomical, physiological, and pathological data stored in digital format, by predictive simulations developed from these collections, and by services intended to support researchers in the creation and maintenance of these models.

Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) models aim to integrate physiological processes across different length and time scales (multi-scale modelling), [5]. These models make possible the combination of patient-specific data with population-based representations. The objective is to develop a systemic approach which avoids a reductionist approach and seeks not to subdivide biological systems in any particular way by dimensional scale (body, organ, tissue, cells, molecules), by scientific discipline (biology, physiology, biophysics biochemistry, molecular biology, bioengineering) or anatomical sub-system (cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, etc.) [6].

History of Virtual Physiological Human (VPH)

The initial concept of the Virtual Physiological Human came from the IUPS physiome project. The IUPS physiome project was formed in 1997 and was the first worldwide effort to define the physiome through the development of databases and models which facilitated the understanding of the integrative function of cells, organs, and organisms [7]. The project focused on compiling and providing a central repository of databases, linking experimental information and computational models from many laboratories into a single, self-consistent framework.

The Physiome is the quantitative and integrated description of the functional behaviour of the physiological state of an individual or species [8].

Following the launch of the Physiome Project, there were many other worldwide initiatives of loosely coupled actions all focusing on the development of methods for modelling and simulation of human physiology. In 2005, an expert workshop of the Physiome was held as part of the Functional Imaging and Modelling of the Heart Conference in Barcelona where a White Paper [9] was created. The paper was entitled ‘Towards Virtual Physiological Human: Multilevel modelling and simulation of the human anatomy and physiology’. The goal of this paper was to shape a clear overview of on-going relevant VPH activities, to build a consensus on how they can be complemented by new initiatives for researchers in the EU and to identify possible mid-term and long term research challenges.

At the same time in 2005, a proposal was accepted by the European Commission for a roadmap on how to coordinate European efforts toward the development of the Virtual Physiological Human. The roadmap was written by STEP, a consortium formed by academic, industrial and healthcare specialists as well as scientists who had previously worked on multiscale modelling of particular physiological systems (heart, kidney, epithelium, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal etc) [10].

The Step research road map [11]. http://www.europhysiome.org/roadmap/). to the Europhysiome was instrumental in the development of the VPH and was completed by the STEP coordination action in 2007.

The Virtual Physiological Human now forms a core target of the 7th Framework Programme of the European Commission, and aims to support the development of patient-specific computer models and their application in personalised and predictive healthcare [12]. The Virtual Physiological Human Network of Excellence VPH NoE aims to connect the various VPH projects within the 7th Framework Programme.

Aim of the Virtual Physiological Human

VPH related projects have received substantial funding from the European Commission in order to further scientific progress in this area. The European Commission is insistent that VPH-related projects demonstrate strong industrial participation and clearly indicate a route from basic science into clinical practice [13]. In the future, it is hoped that the VPH will eventually lead to a better healthcare system which aims to have the following benefits[14]: 

	personalized care solutions 
	reduced need for experiments on animals 
	more holistic approach to medicine 
	preventative approach to treatment of disease


Personalized care solutions are a key aim of the VPH, with new modelling environments for predictive, individualized healthcare to result in better patient safety and drug efficacy. It is anticipated that the VPH could also result in healthcare improvement through greater understanding of pathophysiological processes [15]. The use of biomedical data from a patient to simulate potential treatments and outcomes could prevent the patient from experiencing unnecessary or ineffective treatments [16]. The use of in silico (by computer simulation) modelling and testing of drugs could also reduce the need for experiments on animals.

A future goal is that there will be also be a more holistic approach to medicine with the body treated as a single multi organ system rather than as a collection of individual organs. Advanced integrative tools should further help to improve the European healthcare system on a number of different levels that include diagnosis, treatment and care of patients and in particular quality of life. [17]. The VPH NoE website contains further information on VPH projects.

See also

References

  1. ^ Clapworthy et al. 2007
  2. ^ According to the STEP research road map
  3. ^ Fenner et al. 2008; Viceconti et al. 2008; Clapworthy et al. 2008
  4. ^ STEP research road map
  5. ^ Fenner et al, 2008
  6. ^ Clapworthy et al. 2008
  7. ^ Hunter and Borg 2003
  8. ^ NSR Physiome Project
  9. ^ http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/activities/health/docs/events/barcelona2005/ec-vph-white-paper2005nov.pdf White Paper
  10. ^ Clapworthy et al. 2008
  11. ^ . STEP research road map
  12. ^ Kohl and Noble, 2009
  13. ^ Clapworthy et al. 2008
  14. ^ STEP research road map
  15. ^ Fenner et al. 2008
  16. ^ Sadiq et al. 2008
  17. ^ STEP research road map

Bibliography

  • Clapworthy, G., Kohl, P., Gregerson, H., Thomas, S., Viceconti, M., Hose, D., Pinney, D., Fenner, J., McCormack, K., Lawford, P., Van Sint Jan, S., Waters, S., & Coveney, P. 2007, "Digital Human Modelling: A Global Vision and a European Perspective," In Digital Human Modelling: A Global Vision and a European Perspective , Berlin: Springer, pp. 549-558.
  • Clapworthy, G., Viceconti, M., Coveney, P.V., & Kohl, P. 2008. The Virtual Physiological Human: building a framework for computational biomedicine I. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 366, (1878) 2975-2978 available from: http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/366/1878/2975.short
  • Fenner, J.W., Brook, B., Clapworthy, G., Coveney, P.V., Feipel, V., Gregersen, H., Hose, D.R., Kohl, P., Lawford, P., McCormack, K.M., Pinney, D., Thomas, S.R., Van Sint Jan, S., Waters, S., & Viceconti, M. 2008. The EuroPhysiome, STEP and a roadmap for the virtual physiological human. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 366, (1878) 2979-2999 available from: http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/366/1878/2979.abstract
  • Hunter, P.J. 2006. Modeling living systems: the IUPS/EMBS Physiome project. Proceedings IEEE, 94, 678-991
  • Hunter, P.J. & Borg, T.K. 2003. Integration from proteins to organs: the Physiome project. Nature, 4, (237) 243
  • Kohl, P. & Noble, D. (in press). Systems biology and the Virtual Physiological Human. Molecular Systems Biology
  • Sadiq, S.K., Mazzeo, M.D., Zasada, S.J., Manos, S., Stoica, I., Gale, C.V., Watson, S.J., Kellam, P., Brew, S., & Coveney, P.V. 2008. Patient-specific simulation as a basis for clinical decision-making. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, Physical and Engineering Sciences, 366, (1978) 3199-3219
  • Viceconti, M., Clapworthy, G., & Van Sint Jan, S. 2008. The Virtual Physiological Human — A European Initiative for in silico Human Modelling. Journal of Physiological Sciences, 58, (7) 441-446


  • VPH NoE The VPH NoE was launched in 2008 and aims to provide the necessary infrastructure including computational methodologies, tools and databases that will enable academic, clinical and industrial researchers to communicate, and to exchange data and technologies in a standardised way. The website has the latest news, events and progress of the VPH NoE, contains further information on the VPH I projects and is a useful resource to find out more about the VPH.
  • EuroPhysiome The Europhysiome initiative was coordinated by the STEP Coordination action, which aimed to establish a better coordination between European Physiome projects. STEP is now completed; its primary results were the establishment of the Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) concept, and the production of a European research roadmap to the realisation of the VPH.
  • STEP Roadmap STEP Consortium. Seeding the EuroPhysiome: A Roadmap to the Virtual Physiological Human. [Online] 5 July 2007,
  • IUPS Physiome Project The Physiome Project is a worldwide public domain effort to provide a computational framework for understanding human and other eukaryotic physiology. It aims to develop integrative models at all levels of biological organisation, from genes to the whole organism via gene regulatory networks, protein pathways, integrative cell function, and tissue and whole organ structure/function relations. University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
  • BioMed Town is an online resource, borne out of the Sixth Framework Programme Coordination Action STEP (A Strategy for the Europhysiome). It is a meeting place open to Biomedical Research & Technology, Biomedical Industry and Clinical Practice, and aims to support networking and information sharing - key activities underpinning any integrative/interdisciplinary research community. It is open to all those who have a professional or educational interest in biomedical research & technology.
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