The computer as the "virtual patient" is the focus of a research team in Dublin which is attempting to improve techniques for the stimulation of drug-delivery systems in the human body. Hitachi, the Athlone-based pharmaceutical company Elan and TCD have joined forces in a EU-funded project studying new ways of administering drugs.
The project has attracted EU Esprit funding of more than £190,000, but additional investment brings the research budget up to £315,000. Most of the work will be carried out at the Irish Centre for Transfer of Advanced Computing Technology in TCD. The team believes modelling drug-delivery systems could reduce the volume of testing in human and animal trials.
They also believe it could shorten the transition from discovery and development of a drug to its ultimate use in human or animal treatment.