Work Packages

WP1: Brain Health

Objectives:

  1. Elucidate the ageing-related mechanism impacting the function of the brain in older age, using model-based
    solutions to design better treatments;
  2. Generate a full-scale human brain Finite Element Model that accounts for
    regional and age-related changes in the mechanical properties of brain tissues;
  3. Establish head injury prevention
    tools for the elderly population to decipher the geriatric injury mechanics and develop age-adapted protection
    solutions;
  4. Integrate data-driven and knowledge-drive modelling approaches for improved understanding of
    neurodegenerative diseases.

WP2: Heart Health

Objectives: Investigate the age-related changes in cardiovascular structure and function using multi-physics research tools to better understand the underlying mechanisms of age-related disorders of the heart and vasculature;

  1. Build a three-dimensional (3D) multi-physics in silico health solution of the contracting heart to assess shear
    wave elastography (SWE) in the ageing heart;
  2. Lower the barrier for robust and accurate in silico predictions due the inherent variability in experimental
    tissue testing, through a systematic uncertainty quantification and propagation framework;
  3. Define a prospective patient-specific failure criterion for ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms, based on
    non-invasive patient measurements and retrospective data of patients. 

WP3: Musculoskeletal Health

Objectives:

  1. Assess the effect of ageing on the musculoskeletal system of the knee and spine to gain insights into age-related changes in joint function;
  2. Identify movement-related signatures of joint loading predisposing to degenerative joint disease based on a large prospective elderly cohort study;
  3. Apprehend key pathophysiological mechanisms that contribute to the degeneration of synovial (knee) and fibrocartilaginous (intervertebral disc) joints, in relation with the morphology of the joint, and the interplays among biochemical and mechanical environments;
  4. Develop patient-specific image-based finite element models of spine segments to unravel the mechanistic causes of these conditions to leverage improved diagnosis and treatment.

WP4: In Silico Health and society

Objectives:

  1. Anticipate potential ethical, legal, and social issues associated with in silico technologies in society;
  2. Formulate strategies mitigating unwanted risks or consequences arising from the adoption of in silico technologies in society;
  3. Develop and deploy a standardized research protocol mapping the evolution of research for in silico technologies for healthy ageing

WP5: Training and Dissemination

Objectives:

  1. Provide relevant training activities for the field of in silico health and provide transferrable skills training for Doctoral Candidates;
  2. Disseminate broadly the results of the Doctoral Network to the different stakeholders of the in silico health ecosystem;
  3. Engage with the diverse in silico health stakeholders to facilitate and foster communication between the different categories of stakeholders

Management and Coordination

Objectives:

  1. Manage and Coordinate InSilicoHealth;
  2. Coordinate communication within the Doctoral Network