OpenCMISS: a multi-physics & multi-scale computational infrastructure for the VPH/Physiome project.

Area of Science:

• Computational biology
• Physiomics
• Multiscale modeling

Background:

• The VPH/Physiome Project aims to create integrated models of human physiology.
• Existing software lacked the flexibility to link diverse biophysical processes across scales.
• Development of CellML and FieldML standards provided a foundation for model encoding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce OpenCMISS, a new open-source computational modeling software.
• To describe the design principles and architecture of OpenCMISS.
• To demonstrate how OpenCMISS facilitates the integration of multiscale physiological models.

Main Methods:

• Development of the OpenCMISS software over six years.
• Implementation of a distributed memory architecture for scalability.
• Design of interfaces for linking different physical equation sets and spatial fields.
• Embodiment of CellML and FieldML concepts within OpenCMISS data structures.

Main Results:

• OpenCMISS replaces previous CMISS code, supporting organ system Physiome projects.
• The software integrates subcellular, tissue, and organ-level biophysical processes.
• Demonstrated coupling of mechanics, fluid dynamics, and electrical propagation in cardiac modeling.
• Flexible infrastructure for combining models developed within the VPH/Physiome community.

Conclusions:

• OpenCMISS provides a flexible and robust infrastructure for multiscale physiological modeling.
• The software enables the integration of diverse biophysical processes using established standards.
• Facilitates collaborative model development and complex simulations within the VPH/Physiome community.