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Updated: Mar 23, 2026

Anatomically Realistic Neonatal Heart Model for Use in Neonatal Patient Simulators
Published on: February 5, 2019
Improving the physiological realism of experimental models
Kalyan C Vinnakota1, Chae Y Cha2, Patrik Rorsman2
1Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, MI , USA.
Abstract:
The Virtual Physiological Human (VPH) project aims to develop integrative, explanatory and predictive computational models (C-Models) as numerical investigational tools to study disease, identify and design effective therapies and provide an in silico platform for drug screening. Ultimately, these models rely on the analysis and integration of experimental data. As such, the success of VPH depends on the availability of physiologically realistic experimental models (E-Models) of human organ function that can be parametrized to test the numerical models. Here, the current state of suitable E-models, ranging from in vitro non-human cell organelles to in vivo human organ systems, is discussed. Specifically, challenges and recent progress in improving the physiological realism of E-models that may benefit the VPH project are highlighted and discussed using examples from the field of research on cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal disorders, diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
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