What if one day we had a twin, virtualwhich helps us to treat ourselves better and prevent diseases? A decidedly cutting-edge frontier that the company is working onUniversity of Pisaas the only Italian partner of a European project coordinated by the University of Ghent, which could radically revolutionize the therapies of the future. The project is called Vital and promises to bring about a turning point which, without too much ado, we could define as epochal in the management of therapies for diseases that are complicated to treat today.
Vital, the project that also speaks Italian
“Vital – Virtual Twins as Tools for Personalized Clinical Care”, this is the detailed name of the program, aims to create over the next five years a multi-organ platform capable of creating, thanks to Artificial Intelligence, a “virtual human twin” for patients suffering from serious cardiovascular disorders.
Vital’s virtual human twins are customized multiscale computational models which have the potential to predict the progression of a disease and the outcomes of a given treatment, over a period of months to years. This technology offers the possibility of providing increasingly optimized strategies for each individual patientbut also increasingly economically advantageous, exceeding the current standards of clinical care and reducing the costs of therapies that are unthinkable today.
Basically it’s about “copies” to improve current treatments and make them increasingly personalized, tailored to the individual patient, taking into account above all those elements that today escape medical evaluation, to try to have specific long-term responses, different by sex, age and other parameters, to surgical or medical treatments on the cardiovascular system and other organs.
Because cardiovascular problems are difficult to treat today
Complex chronic cardiovascular disorders, such asheart failure o l’hypertensionaffect billions of people around the world, severely compromising the quality of life and often leading to serious illness or premature death.
These disorders, experts explain, are difficult to treat due to the complex interaction between the function of the heart, lungs and blood vessels, their role in supplying blood to key organs, such as the brain and kidneys, and the variable influence of hormonal and other environmental, genetic, psychosocial factors. Essentially, a therapy that works for one patient may be ineffective and even harmful for another.
How “virtual twins” work
The Vital project, funded by the European Union, will develop the most correct technology for the next five years to build a “virtual twin” of a person’s heart and other important organs, using information collected from clinical tests or thanks to special sensors wearables, such as smart watches, to help doctors choose the best treatments for each person.
These virtual human twins will, for the first time, allow healthcare professionals to predict response to treatment in the short and medium term, up to 6 months later the start of treatment. Vital will therefore be able to provide doctors with essential tools for the early evaluation of the impact of treatment on the development of a given disease, identifying who could benefit from risky or expensive therapies, anticipating potential adverse reactions, improving the overall health outcomes of the treatment and also reducing the costs.
In parallel, it will study how patients, doctors and healthcare professionals interact with these new digital tools, also considering the ethical, social and psychosocial implications of these new technologies.
Wearable tech at the service of medicine
Vital will provide a complete multi-organ modeling platform, capable of representing individual patient data acquired both in the clinic and thanks to wearable technologies, i.e. all those wearable technology tools that are already reshaping medicine. So as to avoid needlessly subjecting people to treatments from which they would not benefit.
In practice, thanks to special intuitive interfaces, created in collaboration with doctors, the platform will create a virtual human twin to find the best pharmacological or surgical therapy for complex and multifactorial cardiovascular disorders that have a systemic impact and a high risk of comorbidity, including the others, of the kidney and brain, such as systemic hypertension and heart failure.
By the end of the project, the platform will have been validated and tested on more than 200 patients in 5 clinical trials in France and the UK.
The role of the University of Pisa
As regards the Italian role, the working group ofUniversity of Pisacoordinated by Prof. Martina Smorti of the Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology and Critical Area of the Tuscan university, will investigate the possible psychological, social and relational impacts related to the use of this type of technology in the medical field.
“Despite the important involvement of medical, IT and engineering skills necessary for the development and implementation of the Virtual human twin – explains Professor Smorti – the project pays particular attention to the psychological, social and relational impacts of use of this type of technology at a clinical level. This is the specific objective of the working group of the University of Pisa which, thanks to psychological and sociological expertise, will investigate the factors that favor or hinder the acceptance of the virtual human twin by doctors, patients and caregivers”.
A more lateral point of view, but equally crucial, to understand how much and how the virtual human twin is accepted and welcomed by patients, how much these new strategies can improve the level of trust in doctors and in the healthcare system in general, but also stress of patients and families and the impact on healthcare professionals in using AI as a treatment tool. “The studies conducted – concludes Smorti – demonstrate that the use of Artificial Intelligence at the level of clinical practice affects all the actors and institutions involved, modifying the relationships in the field and the systems of preferences, perceptions, expectations”.
Virtual Twins: A New Era in Personal Healthcare
Now, wouldn’t it be something if one day your better half was…you? I mean, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t want a twin, virtual that can help us treat ourselves better? No more late-night snacks, fewer Netflix binges—unless your virtual self is as much of a binge-watcher as you are! Luckily, the University of Pisa is diving into this cheeky frontier, partnering with the University of Ghent to work on a project that sounds suspiciously like a sci-fi novel: Vital.
Vital, the project that even your mum would approve of!
The aptly named Vital – “Virtual Twins as Tools for Personalized Clinical Care” – aims to create a multi-organ platform over the next five years. The dream? A “virtual human twin” to dodge healthcare’s proverbial curve balls—specifically for those suffering from nasty cardiovascular disorders. You know the ones—heart failure and hypertension, the kind of ailments that sound like they should be on a reality TV show dealing with dramatic life choices.
These virtual human twins are simply customized multiscale computational models equipped with the uncanny ability to predict disease progression. Think of them as the fortune tellers you never knew you needed, but instead of reading your palm, they’re analyzing your heart. We’re talking about personalized treatments that go beyond the one-size-fits-all approach that’s been more miss than hit.
Cardiovascular Culprit: Why It’s So Complicated!
So, what’s the deal? Why are these cardiovascular issues so darn hard to tackle? It’s like trying to solve a Rubik’s cube while juggling chainsaws! Complex chronic cardiovascular disorders are like an overcooked spaghetti—everything’s tangled up and difficult to unravel. They affect billions globally, causing havoc in lives and leading straight to serious complications—or worse, untimely exits.
With cardiovascular health, the heart, lungs, and blood vessels are best friends who sometimes have a bit of a misunderstanding. Throw in hormonal influences, environmental variables, and, of course, our good friend genetics, and you’ve got a recipe for treatment complications. One person’s miracle cure could be another’s ticket to nowhere—a risky game that we’re finally getting a grip on, thanks to some high-tech wizardry!
How “Virtual Twins” Are Basically Medical Magic
Picture this: a future where your doctor pulls out your virtual twin—not some weird clone hiding in their closet but a sophisticated digital representation created using info from clinical tests and wearable tech like smartwatches. Sounds like something out of a David Cronenberg film, doesn’t it? Toss in a few sensors and voilà, you’re looking at a predictive masterpiece!
For the first time ever, healthcare professionals will be able to predict responses to treatment in the short and medium term—up to six months later. It’s kind of like having a crystal ball, but one that actually works—sorry, fortune tellers! Vital empowers doctors to assess how treatment impacts a disease’s development, pinpointing who should risk daring therapies and anticipating potential adverse reactions. It’s like having GPS for your health, minus the annoying ‘recalculating’ voice.
The Gadgets that Save Lives: Wearable Tech ftw!
Imagine wearing technology that doesn’t just track your steps or how many calories you’ve burned, but actually contributes to your medical well-being. The Vital project promises to do just that by creating a comprehensive platform for multi-organ modeling. Basically, all that data collected from your fancy fitness tracker might just turn you into a healthier human being—and we’re all here for it!
The University of Pisa: A Critical Role in the Virtual Revolution
So, what’s the role of our Italian friends at the University of Pisa? Well, they’re not just twiddling their thumbs while others geek out over tech! Led by Professor Martina Smorti, they’ll investigate the psychological and social impacts of utilizing this technology in the medical field. Because let’s face it, while it’s all fun and games to have a virtual twin, we also need to check if the human element survives the AI revolution!
Prof. Smorti notes that while we need medical, IT, and engineering prowess for developing these virtual twins, understanding how these innovations are embraced by patients, doctors, and caregivers is critical. It’s about building trust and assessing how these techy transformations might shift relationships in healthcare. Who wouldn’t want a twin telling them to eat healthier or stick to the ‘no carbs after 6 PM’ rule? It’s more than just a health tool; it’s a potential family therapist!
Bottom Line: Virtual Twins are Here to Stay!
As we gear up for this epic digital healthcare journey, we face the tantalizing prospect of a future where treatment is personalized, effective, and maybe, just maybe, a bit less anxious for patients and doctors alike. No more will we roll the dice on therapies that could leave us in the lurch. Instead, we’ll be able to navigate the healthcare maze with our virtual twins leading the charge, ensuring we’re living our best lives—one heartbeat at a time!
So let’s raise a metaphoric glass to tech, science, and the irresistible joy of being just a little more in tune with our bodies—what could possibly go wrong?
What are the potential psychological impacts of virtual twin technology on patients and healthcare professionals?
Re for it! By using intuitive interfaces that doctors helped design, the platform will craft your virtual twin, ensuring that treatments for complex cardiovascular disorders are not just tailored but finely honed for efficacy.
The University of Pisa: Minds at Work
In this innovative endeavor, the University of Pisa is taking on a vital role, led by Professor Martina Smorti and her team from the Department of Surgical, Medical, Molecular Pathology, and Critical Area. They’re diving deep into the psychological, social, and relational impacts of adopting this cutting-edge technology in clinical settings. It’s not just about the tech itself; it’s about how it can change the dynamics between patients, doctors, and caregivers.
“Our aim is to understand how healthcare professionals and patients respond to the idea of a virtual twin,” explains Professor Smorti. “The project isn’t just focused on the technological feasibility; we want to see how these innovations can modify relationships in healthcare, influence trust levels, and even impact the stress of patients and families.” It’s a perspective that acknowledges the profound changes AI can introduce in healthcare, fostering trust, improving quality of life, and potentially enhancing the efficiency of treatments.
Final Thoughts: A Leap into the Future
The Vital project is positioning itself at the forefront of personalized medicine, giving hope to those affected by chronic cardiovascular issues. With advanced simulations and profound insights into human health, the future may just bring us closer to individualized treatments that truly work for each unique patient. It’s a thrilling time to be alive in the world of medicine, where science fiction is rapidly becoming a reality—and who knows? Your virtual twin might just be the health coach we all need!