How can future health care become more efficient and better meet the needs of the individual patient? By focussing our efforts on in silico insights, based on physics-based computer models and simulations. This is the basic principle of the new KU Leuven Institute: iSi Health – KU Leuven Institute of Physics-based Modeling for In Silico Health.
The first thing that comes to mind when we think of biomedical research is what happens in the lab (in vitro), or animal testing and studies involving human participants (in vivo). Another, complimentary, research method based on computer models and simulations (in silico) quite often remains in the shadows. iSi Health, the KU Leuven Institute for Physics-based Modeling for In Silico Health, wants to change that.
“In other technological fields, computer-generated models are already much more established. Think, for instance, of aviation”, says Ilse Jonkers, Biomechanics Professor and Founder of iSi Health together with Karl Meerbergen, Lennart Scheys and Jos Vander Sloten. “Also, in health care there is great potential for improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illnesses through physics-based models. With this new institute we want to help shape this evolution.”
“Already much is happening at KU Leuven in the field of in silico research. More specifically, the modelling, simulation and visualisation of biological and medical processes, from the cellular and molecular level to specific organ systems and clinical pictures. At this moment, these activities are still fragmented. With iSi Health we want to increase the interactions between these researchers and reduce the step to future clinical implementation.”
“In other technological fields, computer-generated models are already much more established. Think, for instance, of aviation”, says Ilse Jonkers, Biomechanics Professor and Founder of iSi Health together with Karl Meerbergen, Lennart Scheys and Jos Vander Sloten. “Also, in health care there is great potential for improving the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of illnesses through physics-based models. With this new institute we want to help shape this evolution.”
“Already much is happening at KU Leuven in the field of in silico research. More specifically, the modelling, simulation and visualisation of biological and medical processes, from the cellular and molecular level to specific organ systems and clinical pictures. At this moment, these activities are still fragmented. With iSi Health we want to increase the interactions between these researchers and reduce the step to future clinical implementation.”
“As iSi Health, we are convinced that in silico techniques will mean an important innovation in health care”, Ilse Jonkers concludes. “This technology will support the healthcare professional of the future in tailoring the treatment even better to the individual patient's needs. Also, due to the unique symbiosis with UZ Leuven, KU Leuven, in addition to other top universities such as Stanford and Sheffield, can play a pioneering role in this evolution to which we as an institution want to contribute.”
This article was first published on 27 January by KU Leuven.
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