We have exciting news to share with you once again. By using mathematical data that mimics the behavior of a human heart, scientists at Maastricht University have successfully developed a so-called digital twin heart. The impact of this innovative computer model is substantial, benefiting both patients and research involving animals.
What is a digital twin heart?
Simply put, a digital twin heart is a computer model of the human heart based on patient data, such as echocardiograms and electrocardiograms (ECG). By analyzing this data, the model assists resear
chers in gaining a better understanding of heart diseases.
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Faster diagnoses & personalized treatment
The model allows researchers to investigate which patients are at higher risk of [condition]. This is crucial information for prevention. Aurore Lyon, postdoctoral researcher at Maastricht University, explains: “If we know which patients are at a higher risk, we can detect and possibly prevent it earlier.”
Moreover, the digital twin heart paves the way for personalized treatments. The computer model can test new drugs and treatments on a simulated patient profile. Only when these tests are successful, the medication or treatment is applied to the actual patient. This means that treatment can start more quickly and is better tailored to the individual.
And even fewer test animals!
In the testing of (new) drugs and treatments, hundreds of thousands of test animals are used in the Netherlands alone. However, computer models like the digital twin heart put an end to this. By testing drugs on data from human patients, they not only make research more reliable but also ensure that fewer animal experiments are needed for drug research. A win-win situation!
Saskia Aan, advisor for science and innovation: “It’s fantastic to see that by better utilizing data from humans, we can replace laboratory animals. Not only that, but the research itself also improves. This shows that we can measure so much more with human-based models.”
