Interest in the potential of in silico technologies continues to grow. This year the Showcase event saw the extraordinary participation of over 250 attendees from academia, industry, and funding bodies.
The 2018 Insigneo Showcase took place on Thursday 3 May at the University of Sheffield’s Octagon Centre and focused on highlighting the latest in silico medicine innovations produced by Insigneo.
This year the keynote speaker was Professor Dame Pamela Shaw, Director of the National Institute for Health Research Sheffield Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) on Translational Neuroscience for Chronic Neurological Disorders, who presented the research of the BRC and how the application of in silico medicine technologies will contribute to research into interventions for neurodegenerative diseases.
The programme for the day was divided into four themes:
• In silico science
• In silico technologies
• In silico medicine: predictive medicine
• In silico for industrial exploitation
The research presented included Dr Cécile Perrault’s talk on the role of mechanical forces on cardiovascular diseases, in particular in relation to the design of stents and the potential for in silico technologies to save time and money during development. Professor Wendy Tindale’s talk on translation and adoption of medical devices in the NHS provoked much discussion and presented some of the challenges to be overcome.
Insigneo Executive Director and VPHi President - Professor Marco Viceconti, commented: “In silico technologies enable a more personalised medicine, which will mean a more participatory medicine where the patient can decide what is the best course of action, and a more preventive medicine where we intervene before things get really bad. For me the most important goal is to improve the quality of life, rather than the quantity. We live long enough, but the quality of life of patients with chronic conditions is still quite poor.”
As well as presentations from Insigneo members, the day also included engaging displays of high-quality research; an exhibition area showcasing in silico medicine’s latest commercial applications; networking opportunities and one-to-one discussions with funders, academics and clinicians.
Further information on the event can be found here.
