The Virtual Stomach

Investigators
Z Liu and LK Cheng
Contact info (email)
l.cheng@auckland.ac.nz
1. Define context(s)
aid in clinical trial design
identify/explore new therapies
reveal new biological insights
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Extensive
Primary goal of the model/tool/database

The model will be used to represent and predict stomach anatomy and function in response to external electrical stimuli. The model will anatomically and biophysical based and incorporate cell, tissue and organ level function.  

 

Biological domain of the model
Gastric electrophysiology and motility
Structure(s) of interest in the model
Stomach, Vagas
Spatial scales included in the model
um to cms (ion channels to organ level)
Time scales included in the model
ms to minutes (ion channels to organ level)
Other uses for the model (optional)

The models have the ability to be adapted to other sections of the gastrointestinal tract that have similar function (in particular the small intestine and the colon). In addition, the modelling frameworks utilized are generic so can be updated to model the electrical function in other organs.

2. Data for building and validating the model
Data for building the model Published? Private? How is credibility checked? Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
in vitro (primary cells cell, lines, etc.)
ex vivo (excised tissues)
in vivo pre-clinical (lower-level organism or small animal) Yes No Repeated studies Extensive
in vivo pre-clinical (large animal) Yes No Repeated studies Adequate
Human subjects/clinical
Other: ________________________
Data for validating the model Published? Private? How is credibility checked? Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
in vitro (primary cells cell, lines, etc.)
ex vivo (excised tissues)
in vivo pre-clinical (lower-level organism or small animal) Yes No Repeated studies Extensive
in vivo pre-clinical (large animal) Yes No Repeated studies Adequate
Human subjects/clinical
Other: ________________________
3. Validate within context(s)
Who does it? When does it happen? How is it done? Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Verification Developers and users During development cycle Code review Adequate
Validation Developers and users During development cycle Reproduction of experimental data Adequate
Uncertainty quantification N/A
Sensitivity analysis Developers and users New model Parameter sampling Adequate
Other:__________
Additional Comments
4. Limitations
Disclaimer statement (explain key limitations) Who needs to know about this disclaimer? How is this disclaimer shared with that audience? Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Inter-species variability All Discussed with results Extensive
Inter-subject variability All Discussed with results Extensive
5. Version control
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Extensive
Naming Conventions? Repository? Code Review?
individual modeler Yes subversion Yes
within the lab Yes subversion Yes
collaborators Yes subversion Yes
6. Documentation
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Code commented? Yes, extensive
Scope and intended use described? Yes, extensive
User’s guide? Yes, extensive
Developer’s guide? Yes, extensive
7. Dissemination
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Adequate
Target Audience(s): “Inner circle” Scientific community Public
Simulations Yes Yes, when possible
Models Yes Yes, when possible
Software Yes
Results Yes Yes, when possible
Implications of results Yes Yes, when possible
8. Independent reviews
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Insufficient
Reviewer(s) name & affiliation:
When was review performed?
How was review performed and outcomes of the review?
9. Test competing implementations
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Adequate
Yes or No (briefly summarize)
Were competing implementations tested? Yes
Did this lead to model refinement or improvement? Yes
10. Conform to standards
Current Conformance Level / Target Conformance Level
Insufficient
Yes or No (briefly summarize)
Are there operating procedures, guidelines, or standards for this type of multiscale modeling? No
How do your modeling efforts conform?