SPP 2311:  Robust coupling of continuum-biomechanical in silico models to establish active biological system models for later use in clinical applications - Co-design of modeling, numerics and usability

• Subject Area: Construction Engineering and Architecture ; Biology ; Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering ; Mechanical and Industrial Engineering ; Materials Science and Engineering ; Mathematics ; Medicine ; Thermal Engineering/Process Engineering
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 441884911

Many high-tech areas intensively use in silico (computational) models to accelerate the development oftheir products. This is not necessarily true for the development of modern diagnostic and individualisedtreatment methods. In this field, however, most existing in silico models are limited to single scales(e.g. cell, tissue) or generic multi-scale models of individual organs (e.g. individual muscle, liver). Tounderstand symptoms and diseases, however, several spatial and temporal scales must be considered.A central task of numerical biomechanics and biomedical research is therefore to develop robustcoupling methods and strategies. These must integrate the scales of biological systems from moleculesto complete organ systems or organisms.The challenge hereby is to adequately, efficiently, and robustly model the high complexity of biologicalsystems. To do so, a close cooperation between medicine, engineering sciences, numerical mathematics(numerics) and computer science is required. In particular, the description of multi-scale systemmodels requires innovative coupling strategies that incorporate state-of-the-art computer architectures,new and robust numerical methods, data structures and integration possibilities. In addition, thesimulation results must be prepared in collaborative research with medical scientists for transfer to theclinic and for application with clinical questions.The aim of this Priority Programme is to co-design robust, computational, continuum-biomechanicalmodels by developing new methods combining research in modelling, numerics and medical applications.The focus hereby is on models of active biological systems in the human organism, to advancemethods that can later be integrated within a clinical environment, and to define the interfaces betweenmodel and clinical application; the Priority Programme, however, does not aim to establish the transferof the models into the clinic via clinical trials. The programme will concentrate on coupling strategiesfor "active" biological systems. The definition of "active" refers to systems that experience a changeof state due to physical, chemical, and/or biological phenomena or stimuli. Examples are metabolicprocesses, growth and remodelling, or electrical stimulation.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• International Connection: Netherlands

Projects

• A data-driven optimization framework for improving the adaptation of the neuromuscular system in brain pathology (Applicants Göddeke, Dominik ;  Röhrle, Ph.D., Oliver ;  Schulte, Miriam )
• Central Coordination Project (Applicant Röhrle, Ph.D., Oliver )
• Coupled analysis of active biological processes for meniscus tissue regeneration (Applicants Gresser, Götz T. ;  Seitz, Andreas Martin ;  Simeon, Bernd ;  Surulescu, Christina )
• Efficient and robust coupling methods for electro-mechanic models of the human heart (Applicants Loewe, Axel ;  Wieners, Christian )
• Fluid-Structure-Interaction Modelling of the Heart Hemodynamics using Statistical Shape Models (Applicants Goubergrits, Leonid ;  Kühne, Titus )
• In-stent restenosis in coronary arteries - in silico investigations based on patient-specific data and meta modeling (Applicants Behr, Ph.D., Marek ;  Reese, Stefanie ;  Vogt, Felix )
• Modeling and simulation of pharmaco-mechanical fluid-structure interaction for an enhanced treatment of cardiovascular diseases (Applicants Balzani, Daniel ;  Klawonn, Axel ;  Rheinbach, Oliver )
• Multi-scale algorithms and simulation for the patient-specific optimization of endovascular interventions in cerebral aneurysms (Applicants Kirschke, Jan Stefan ;  Popp, Alexander ;  Wohlmuth, Barbara )
• Multi-scale coupling of the vascular hemodynamics for an AI-assisted, standardized evaluation of neurological pathologies (Applicants Berg, Ph.D., Philipp ;  Saalfeld, Sylvia )
• Multiscale Modelling of Ultrasound Neuromodulation in the Human Brain – From Neuron to Brain (Applicants Keip, Marc-André ;  Ortiz, Ph.D., Michael ;  Sitti, Metin )
• SIMulation supported LIVer Assessment for donor organs (SimLivA) - Continuum-biomechanical modeling for staging of ischemia reperfusion injury during liver transplantation (Applicants Dahmen, Uta ;  Ricken, Tim ;  Tautenhahn, Hans-Michael )
• Skeletal Muscle Adaptation: the cornerstone for modelling neuromuscular diseases and predicting muscular deficiencies (Identification, Homogenisation, Verification, and Integration) (Applicants Ates, Filiz ;  Röhrle, Ph.D., Oliver )

• Spokesperson: Professor Oliver Röhrle, Ph.D.