The Digital Twin Theory

Ovarian cancer remains one of the most complex and challenging cancers to understand and treat. But how can computational models, artificial intelligence, and in silico medicine help researchers and clinicians tackle this disease? In this episode of The Digital Twin Theory, host Davide Montesarchio speaks with Dr. Marilisa Cortesi , biomedical engineer, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Global Fellow, and As...

Innovation in healthcare does not end with research, regulation, or clinical validation. There is another critical step that often remains invisible: public procurement. How do healthcare systems decide which technologies to adopt? How does innovation move from the lab into real clinical practice? And what role does value-based procurement play in the future of in silico medicine? In this episode,...

In this episode, we speak with Anshu Ankolekar, researcher at the MAASTRO Clinic in the Netherlands, where she works on AI applications in oncology, clinical decision support systems, patient-centered AI design, and healthcare regulation. We explore what it really means AI explainability for patients and clinicians, also touching topics like bringing AI into real-world care, the risk of added work...

A recurring theme that emerged during the production of The Digital Twin Theory is how to bring AI, modelling and simulation into everyday clinical practice. As these technologies mature, this will become one of the key challenges—and opportunities—in healthcare. But the issue is not new. How can modellers develop tools that are not only effective and efficient, but also truly integrated into clin...

In this episode of The Digital Twin Theory, Blanca Rodríguez (University of Oxford) explores sex differences in healthcare and the impact of bias in research and treatment. She explains how digital twins, AI, and computational models can enable sex-aware, personalised medicine, reshaping diagnosis, therapies, and the concept of the “average patient.”

Healthcare is about people as much as science. In this episode, we talk with Jude Dzevela Kong , Director of AIMMLab at the University of Toronto and Co-Director of ACADIC, about community-driven approaches to healthcare innovation. Jude explains how involving local communities and patients from problem definition to implementation leads to more effective, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. Fro...

In the final episode of 2025, we sit down with Scott Delp, Professor of Bioengineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Orthopaedic Surgery at Stanford University, and Director of the Wu Tsai Human Performance Alliance and the RESTORE Center. We met Professor Delp at the iSi Health Conference in September 2025, where we recorded a wide-ranging and insightful conversation on the role of in silico medic...

In this episode of The Digital Twin Theory we dive into the policy side of in silico medicine and digital health. This summer, the European Commission released its report “Study on the Deployment of AI in Healthcare”, a key document shaping Europe’s approach to trustworthy and effective AI in clinical settings. To unpack its findings, Davide speaks with Lia Martina, Policy Officer in Digital Healt...

Interdisciplinary research is at the heart of in silico medicine, but collaborating across disciplines is easier said than done. In this episode, we welcome back Himanshu Kaul (University of Leicester) to discuss real challenges and practical strategies for making interdisciplinary teams work effectively.

In this episode of The Digital Twin Theory podcast we reached out to Prof. Geert Meyfroidt, head of the department of intensive care medicine at the University Hospital of Leuven to talk about AI applications in the Intensive Care Unit. Prof. Meyfroidt discusses the future of intensive care and in silico medicine, highlighting the need for AI systems that support, rather than replace, clinicians....

Our host, Davide Montesarchio, heads to Leuven, Belgium, where he sits down with Prof. Jan d’Hooge—Vice‑Rector for Research Policy at KU Leuven and leader of the Cardiovascular Imaging & Dynamics group. D’Hooge’s lab is turning everyday echocardiography into a predictive, precision tool. Together, Davide and Jan explore how computer modelling, simulations, and AI are redefining what a simple “...

Computer models and Artificial Intelligence (AI) present a new and not fully understood set of opportunities and challenges. To navigate this complex landscape, we turned to a leading innovator in the field: Tina Morrison. With over 15 years of experience at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Tina served as the Director of the Office of Regulatory Science and Innovation, leading the agency in...

In this episode, we talk to Eric Vibert — liver and transplant surgeon, professor at Paris-Saclay University and INSERM, and a trailblazer in surgical innovation. Operating since 2007 at the Paul Brousse Hospital, Prof. Vibert is reshaping the future of surgery through digital solutions. Alongside Nicolas Castoldi, he co-leads the Tier Lieu Campus BOPEX — an Experimental Operating Theatre where cl...

In 2013, Sir Mark Walport, then Chief Scientific Adviser to the UK government, famously said, "Science is not finished until it is communicated." He urged climate change experts to make their work accessible to wider audiences — a message that rings even truer today, especially for the field of in silico medicine. As these technologies move closer to patients' lives, clear and effective communicat...

Let’s delve into the clinical applications of in silico medicine! Our guest for this episode is Dr. Elisa Rauseo, cardiologist and Clinical Research Fellow in Cardiovascular Digital Twins at the Queen Mary University of London. Together, we will discuss the applications of AI and machine learning in cardiology and also how ready medical doctors are to apply in silico tools in their practice.

Musculoskeletal applications are among the most advanced frontiers of in silico medicine. In our first episode of 2025, we sit down with a true pioneer in the field—Prof. Marco Viceconti. From the early days, when only a handful of visionaries foresaw a future where medicine was driven by data and computational models, to the present, Marco has been a driving force in this revolution. His contribu...

In silico medicine is transforming healthcare, and some of its most groundbreaking applications are happening in cardiology. In our final episode of 2024, we explore how this innovative technology is reshaping the future of heart health. Joining us is Mariano Vazquez, CTO and CSO of ELEM Biotech—a spinoff of the Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC)—where he also leads cutting-edge research.

In this episode, we will discuss about social implications and trust in in silico medicine with our guest Zita van Horenbeeck, social scientist at the Virtual Physiological Human Institute and PhD student at the Life Sciences and Society Lab of KU Leuven.

In silico medicine, as a breakthrough in technology and healthcare, carries a series of ethical issues, including managing personal health data, the technological divide, and the doctor-patient relationship. To explore this topic, we interviewed Michele Barbier, an independent ethics expert for the European Commission and EU project coordinator at INRIA working on digital twins. Her insights offer...

Without data,  in silico medicine wouldn't even be possible. In this episode we will explore how data, especially medical data, needs to be managed to make in silico  medicine a reality. Our guest for this episode is Elisabetta Biasin, doctoral researcher at the Centre for IT and IP Law at KU Leuven.

Do you know how long it takes for a drug to reach the pharmacy? Drug development, testing, and approval take 10 to 15 years and cost millions of euros. Most of this time and money go into clinical trials, which are essential for proving the drug's safety and effectiveness. Clinical trials are crucial, but can we make this process faster, cheaper, and safer for both animals and humans? The short an...

As an in silico medicine tool, Artificial Intelligence is revolutionising healthcare. When did it start? And how can AI contribute to improving and making doctors' work more efficient worldwide? We asked such questions to Leonardo Castorina, PhD student in Biomedical AI at the University of Edinburgh, specialising in AI-driven protein design and immune system research. Don't miss out on our animat...

What is a computer model? How can we build one? How can they be used to improve healthcare? We asked all such questions to Himanshu Kaul, Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellow and Principal Investigator at the Laboratory for Multiscale Emergent Bioengineering at the University of Leicester. Don't miss our animated video series Code & Cure: Understanding  in silico  medicine. Here's the...

In silico medicine is the future of healthcare. But what is it really? And what can it do for us? We interviewed Liesbet Geris, professor of Biomechanics and Computational Tissue Engineering at the University of Liege and KU Leuven. She’s also the executive director of the Virtual Physiological Human Institute. Don't miss our video series Code & Cure: Understanding in silico medicine. Here's t...