The Synergy-COPD project aims to study different functions of the human body using computer models at different levels (sub cellular, tissue, organ and body system). In this way, you can observe the behavior of each physiological network separated and integrated, and to develop a simulation tool for researchers and a support tool for decisions on COPD for doctors.
These informatics tools (which represent a comprehensive compendium of medical knowledge, produced with epidemiological data, clinical trials and interviews with doctors and translated to differential equations) will contribute to reproduce human physiology (the complex functioning of human biology) and simulate dynamically the medical problems of the population, taking into account individual risk profiles.
In a second phase of the project, the support tool to the decision of the doctors will allow, introducing data patient, anticipate the progression of their disease and, even, help to the determine the treatment that will give a better result. Thanks to this system of predictive and personalized medicine, patients will receive the most suitable treatment according to the personal characteristics of each. At the end, the results of the project will contribute to the creation of virtual trials shorter and cheaper. Synergy-COPD has a budget of 4.6 million euros - co-funded by the 7th Framework Program for R&D of the European Commission - and develops in three years.
The project coordinator is Felip Miralles, from Barcelona Digital, being the Hospital Clínic of Barcelona, the Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer, one of the most prominent partners. The consortium also is composed by Biomax (Germany), Linkcare Healthservices SL (Spain), Infermed Ltd. (UK), and the Oxford and Birmingham universities (UK), the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) and the Technical University of Budapest (Hungary).