Page 162 - Visions of the Future Chemistry and Life Science

146 P. KOHL ET AL.

representation is being developed to allow simulation of respiratory move-
ment, and the computation of pulmonary ventilation and gas exchange is
well underway. Thus, the stage for patient-specific models is set.

8.5 The utility of virtual organs

8.5.1 Added value for research
Virtual organs will increasingly determine bio-medical research. Advan-
tages of in silico models include the following:
• Complex investigations, for example on the (sub)cellular level, can be
performed in a fraction of the time required for ‘wet’ (in vivo or in vitro)
studies.
• The costs involved are much smaller than for traditional research. This
applies not only to direct financial aspects, but also to requirements in
terms of human resources, and to ethical matters related, for example,
to the origin of ‘wet’ tissue or organ samples.
• The quality of information benefits from the fact that interventions
and observations can be specifically targeted at any component or
mechanism represented in the model, and at any desired temporal and
spatial resolution.
• While the first three points improve the quantity and quality of infor-
mation, in silico models benefit further from their unrestricted poten-
tial for customised presentation of results. This allows addressing
aspects like individual preferences in information gathering, remote
usage of models, interactive teaching and training, etc.
So much for the advantages. Virtual organs clearly have one major
drawback: they are models only. While this very nature of in silico tech-
nology is the core foundation for the benefits listed above, it also calls for
a word of caution. It is imperative for in silico tools to be seen in the
context of a whole range of scientific and research tools, and to never
neglect that theoretical considerations will continue to need experimental
validation.
Thus, in silico models are by no means self-sufficient. They are irre-
placeable for the future progress of bio-medicine. They do not aim,
however, to substitute but to improve bio-medical research, which will
remain indispensable, not the least for model development and validation.