Development of the Bio Digital Twin is informed by a vast array of biological, physiological, genomic, phenotypic, and health records data – as well as data gleaned from wearable devices and sensors.

This Bio Digital Twin will employ a collection of causal, mechanistic, inferential, and statistical models to derive and integrate information from data of various types. Such advanced analytics – drawing upon a wide range of sciences and technologies, including physiological control systems, hemodynamics, causal inference, modeling and simulation, and cardiovascular dynamics – can improve and predict the performance and health of patients over their lifetimes. Even more exciting, the accuracy of this representation will grow with time as more information refines the models. By design, data will be gathered continually to enable real-time updates.

Our initial focus is on realizing Precision Cardiology through development of an organ systems level Cardiovascular Bio Digital Twin (CV BioDT) as well as an in vitro Heart-on-a-Chip digital twin platform. The CV BioDT will begin with representations of acute cardiac conditions (e.g., acute myocardial infarction) before moving on to more chronic cardiac conditions (e.g., chronic heart failure) and common co-morbidities. Chronic conditions and co-morbidities involve multiple organs and neurohumoral control systems. By addressing the complex interactions necessary to represent these conditions of unmet medical need, the overall Bio Digital Twin will be developed.

Beyond dimensionalizing our knowledge of a patient, the Bio Digital Twin will most importantly enable predictions based on “what if” scenarios, serving as a live reference from which to build applications that improve patient care. By maintaining health through these individualized therapies, MEI Lab will revolutionize healthcare system performance and efficiencies.