Virtual Human Twins (VHTs) for integrated clinical decision support in prevention and diagnosis

Di cosa tratta questo bando?

The topic funds research projects that build and clinically validate multi-scale, multi-organ Virtual Human Twin models to support prevention and diagnosis in areas of high disease burden. SME participation is encouraged.

Cosa finanzia questo bando?

Scope

The topic funds the development and clinical validation of multi-scale, multi-organ Virtual Human Twin (VHT) models: digital, in-silico representations of an individual's health and disease state that support prevention and diagnosis in areas of high disease burden. It builds on earlier VHT projects that focused on disease management and moves to more complex, longitudinal approaches integrated into care pathways and other decision-support tools.

Expected activities

• Select clinical use cases in high-burden areas, for example co-morbidities, chronic cardiovascular conditions, infection and immunity, inflammation and cancer, diabetes, rare and degenerative diseases, or the exposome.
• Design, develop, extend and validate dynamic multi-organ, multi-scale computational models, building on existing standards, data repositories and modelling assets such as those of the EDITH coordination action and the Platform for Advanced VHT Models.
• Evaluate and integrate modelling methods, such as biophysics-based modelling, interpretable or explainable AI, generative AI, agent-based and network physiology approaches, into interoperable patient-specific models.
• Demonstrate integration with other preventive and diagnostic tools, and generate evidence, including clinical validation, of meaningful decision support.
• Run health-economic and/or feasibility studies in real-world settings and produce an exploitation plan covering regulatory compliance and intellectual property.

Collaboration

Projects should contribute to the European VHT Initiative, make their assets available on the Platform for Advanced VHT Models and reserve budget for this. They are expected to collaborate with other EU-funded VHT projects and related EU initiatives. The topic requires an effective contribution from the social sciences and humanities.

Expected outcomes

• Healthcare professionals use multi-scale, multi-organ patient models to improve prevention and diagnosis.
• Patients with diverse characteristics benefit from integrated and personalised prevention and diagnostic tools.

Cosa ci si aspetta dalle proposte?

• Proposals should be multidisciplinary and address all the listed activities.

Quando scade il bando?

16 settembre 2027 (314 giorni)

22 September 2027 (single-stage submission).