In silico medicine can play a role in the fight against the virus!
Dear VPHi members and enthusiasts,
these are extraordinary times and we hope you are all safe and well. First and foremost we want to gratefully acknowledge the precious work done by health care professionals in these challenging times, including by some of our own members. We have been receiving questions regarding what in-silico scientists could do to contribute to battling this crises as well as questions related to our own activities.
Computer modeling and simulation can be used to expedite testing of a wide range of COVID-19 related processes including drug repurposing, epidemiological models (forecasting of disease spread, incidence, prevention measures etc), resource optimisation (e.g. ICU beds) and in silico certification of medical devices related to COVID-19. For instance, EMA is currently already evaluating digital evidence related to COVID-19 treatments. If you are asked to provide in silico expertise and do not feel you are qualified to do so, please get in touch with us so we can help locate the experts.
Most of the VPH activities are taking place through teleconferencing (such as the working groups under the Avicenna Alliance umbrella) and continue as planned. A number of physical VPHi activities are planned to take place later this year, including the VPHi summer school (Barcelona, early June), the VPH2020 conference (France, late August) and the international School on in silico trials (Bologna, early September). Each of those activities will communicate in a timely manner if plans change.
We wish you and your loved ones courage in these challenging times!
The VPHi team
