Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2026
07:09
Virtual Reality Experiments with Physiological Measures
Published on: August 29, 2018
The EuroPhysiome, STEP and a roadmap for the virtual physiological human.
J W Fenner1, B Brook, G Clapworthy
1Department of Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering, University of Sheffield, I Floor, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, UK. j.w.fenner@sheffield.ac.uk
Summary
The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) initiative uses computational methods to create an in silico model of Homo sapiens. This framework aims to integrate data for improved healthcare and biomedical research.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical science and computational biology.
- Development of advanced IT infrastructure for physiological modeling.
Background:
- Biomedical research is increasingly reliant on computational methods for collaborative investigation.
- The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) initiative, originating from EuroPhysiome and STEP consortium, aims to unify physiome projects globally.
- The VPH seeks to provide a framework for describing Homo sapiens in silico.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss the development of the Virtual Physiological Human (VPH).
- To highlight challenges and opportunities in creating a mature VPH technological reality.
- To consider issues pertinent to VPH development, as exemplified by the STEP consortium's work.
Main Methods:
- Review of computational methods and IT infrastructure needs in biomedical science.
- Analysis of the VPH concept as an evolving entity and unifying architecture.
- Examination of the role of initiatives like EuroPhysiome and the STEP consortium.
Main Results:
- The VPH framework facilitates data integration and prediction for physiological projects.
- IT infrastructure is crucial for the routine reliance of biomedical industry, research, and clinical practice.
- Significant challenges must be addressed for the VPH to become a mature technological reality.
Conclusions:
- The VPH has the potential to significantly influence healthcare, industry competitiveness, and understanding of (patho)physiological processes.
- Investment in VPH development is anticipated to yield considerable societal rewards.
- Addressing IT infrastructure challenges is key to realizing the full potential of the VPH.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Model Approaches for Pharmacokinetic Data: Physiological Models
Physiological models in pharmacokinetics are instrumental in understanding the distribution and elimination of drugs within the body. These models describe the drug concentration within target organs, influenced by factors such as drug uptake, tissue volume, and blood flow. Drug uptake is governed by the partition coefficient, which signifies the drug concentration ratio in tissue to that in the blood. The blood flow rate to a specific tissue is expressed as Qt, and the rate of change in tissue...
01:09Clearance Models: Physiological Models
Drug clearance is a critical pharmacokinetic process involving the irreversible removal of drugs from the body through various organs over a specified time period. Physiological models are indispensable in determining organ-specific clearance, defined by the proportion of the drug eliminated per unit of time from the organ's blood volume.
The organ's clearance rate depends on the blood flow to the organ and the extraction ratio (E). The extraction ratio describes the organ's proficiency in drug...
The organ's clearance rate depends on the blood flow to the organ and the extraction ratio (E). The extraction ratio describes the organ's proficiency in drug...
01:25Physiological Barriers
Physiological barriers are semi-permeable cellular structures restricting drug diffusion into intracellular compartments and tissues. There are six types of physiological barriers: blood endothelial, cell membrane, blood-brain, blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), blood-placenta, and blood-testis barriers.
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...
The blood endothelial barrier is the most porous of these. It allows all small ionized, un-ionized, and lipophilic molecules to pass through the endothelial lining into the interstitial space...