Accelerating healthcare through Virtual Human Twins

A vibrant gathering of researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and innovators all working toward one shared goal: making Virtual Human Twins a reality in healthcare. Key takeaways resonated strongly, from Frank Rademakers’ reminder that “we should be less risk-avoiding” to Valentina Strammiello’s powerful call to “keep patients at the center” and ensure VHTs are “accessible to all.”

“The VHT is a bold step from the point of view of someone who has to manage a public health system into having more effective, more resilient, patient-centered healthcare in Europe. – said Sandra Gallina, Director-General of the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety (DG SANTE) of the European Commission. “AI and data will be part of this transformation, but we need more than algorithms, more than computing power: what we need is trust and ethical standards. We want innovation that serves people and not the other way around.”

Prof. Liesbet Geris, VPH Director, captured the spirit of collaboration perfectly: “The biggest achievement has been the establishment of this ecosystem, starting from a clinical and societal pull.”

Building on the EDITH-CSA project’s VHT Roadmap, speakers like Elisa Gastaldi and Jean Colombel highlighted the solid foundation we now have: clear problem statements, a strong regulatory framework, and real opportunities to bring innovation into practice. As Jean noted, “The roadmap enables us to put collaboration in practice and show us the way forward”, and indeed, “having all these people coming together is incredible.”

It was a great day for the growing European VHT community and a powerful reminder that credibility, transparency, and accountability are key to shaping the future of digital health.