Background PDF | Print | E-mail

What is the EU VPH Initiative (VPH-I)?

2_rs.jpgObjective ICT-2007.5.3: Virtual Physiological Human lists, as its main target outcome, patient-specific computer models for personalised and predictive healthcare and ICT-based tools for modelling and simulation of human physiology and disease-related processes. Collaborative projects (IPs and STREPs) within the call will meet specific objectives, addressing: patient-specific computational modelling and simulation of organs or systems data integration and new knowledge extraction and clinical applications and demonstration of tangible benefits of patient-specific computational models.

The networking action outlined within the call - the VPH NoE - should serve to connect these efforts, and lay the foundations for the methodological and technical framework to support such research.   It should also build on previous EC investment in this field, including the outcomes of VPH ‘type' projects funded within the EU Sixth Framework Programme, and through other National and International initiatives.

Learn more in an interview with Gérard Comyn, Head of Unit, ICT for Health

Why VPH-I?  The EC perspective

Major diseases like cancer, neurological and cardiovascular diseases are complex in nature involving environmental, life style, ageing and genetic components. A major challenge for the future how is to integrate the knowledge of all these different components into robust and fully reliable computer models and "in silico" environments that will help the development and testing of new therapies and better disease prediction and prevention tools, in healthcare.

To achieve this goal, an integrative research approach is required to better understand the complex mechanisms behind human diseases. Using this approach, all processes that occur at multiple levels from molecules to cells, organs and organisms are seen not as separate events but as parts of a multi-scale system which aims to improve the understanding of human physiology in health and disease. This is a departure from traditionally ‘reductionist' research practices.

To face this challenge a new generation of multidisciplinary science fields is emerging at the crossroads of information technology, medicine and biology that provide "in silico" multi-scale modelling and simulation in medicine and biology. For example,patient-specific computer models of human cells or organs can bring new understanding of disease, support discovery of new drugs or can help visualisatiop of the effects of different choices of treatments.

Technology, medicine and biology that provide "in silico" multi-scale modelling and simulation in medicine and biology. For example, patient-specific computer models of human cells or organs can bring new understanding of disease, support discovery of new drugs or can help visualisatiop of the effects of different choices of treatments.

To realise this ambitious vision at the crossroads of Information and Communication Technologies and Biomedical Sciences, the EC is investing in this topic through complementary research programmes in Information and Communication Technologies and Health research.

The Directorate-General Information Society and Media (DG INFSO) supports this integrative research through funding of projects in the VPH Initiative. The Directorate-General Research (DG RTD) supports through funding of projects in the areas of health research and systems biology.

VPH NoE and VPH-I

In view of its role as the networking action for the VPH Initiative, all VPH NoE activities have been designed to serve and interconnect not only the VPH NoE core members, but also the projects funded within the VPH call (VPH-I) and the wider research community. Key activities which the VPH NoE will pursue, in support of the development of a research environment which facilitates integrative, interdisciplinary and multilevel VPH research, are:

  • Support for integrative research (WP2/WP3):
    • consultation and document preparation on "VPH Research Strategy"
    • VPH exemplar projects
    • consultation and document preparation on "Technology Requirements for VPH Research"
    • VPH ToolKit development
  • Training and dissemination activities (WP4):
    • consultation activities on training and VPH careers
    • development on EU VPH-related MSc
    • residential study groups to initiate interdisciplinary research collaborations
    • review of mobility actions to support EU VPH researchers
  • Networking activities (WP1/WP5):
    • VPH Initiative online networking activities
    • project meetings, symposia and the NoE general assembly
    • publications, roadmapping and consultation activities
    • industrial, medical and public outreach activities
    • creation of focussed working groups within the VPH Initiative to address common themes

For more information on the individual VPH I projects click here