The Summer School provides junior engineers, early researchers and medical doctors with an integrative view of state-of-the-art research for in silico medicine, following a complete pipeline from basic science and clinical needs, to model application.
This year the School focused on Integrative Medicine and brought together more than 60 participants and 16 distinguished international speakers for 5 days packed with cutting-edge research and transformative insights, from 2 to 6 June in Barcelona.
The program offered a rich and diverse experience for all participants, featuring 14 keynote lectures from Monday to Friday delivered by world-renowned researchers, setting the stage each morning with cutting-edge insights and visionary perspectives. The lectures were followed by dynamic discussions that sparked deep conversations and fostered meaningful professional connections throughout the event.
The school kicked off on June, 2nd, with keynote speakers Miguel Angel del Pozo (CNIC) who explored cell mechanoadaptation, Tue Secher Jensen (University of Southern Denmark) who tackled the complex relationship between low back pain and diagnostic imaging, and Guillaume Mabilleau (University of Nantes) presented groundbreaking advances in bone biomechanics.
In the afternoon, 2025 VPHi Best Thesis Award winner Elena Redaelli (CSIC) captivated the audience with her research on patient-specific corneal biomechanics.
The second day's sessions brought powerful insights at the intersection of AI, genomics, and biomechanics in medicine with Paula Petrone (BSC) who emphasised the need for explainable, fair, and accountable AI in clinical settings. Marta Melé (BSC) revealed how transcriptome regulation affects health and disease across age, sex, and ancestry, and Guillermo Rus Callborg (University of Granada & IBS) introduced next-gen elastography technologies that could unlock new mechanical biomarkers for diseases like cancer, atherosclerosis, and fibrosis.
On June 4th, speakers explored the cutting edge of computational and multiscale modeling in biological systems. Sandra Loerakker (Eindhoven University of Technology) opened the session with insights into how computational tools can unlock the full potential of engineered cardiovascular tissues by mimicking natural growth and adaptation. Tomás Alarcón (CRM) followed with a deep dive into how cell behavior is shaped by dynamic interactions with the extracellular matrix. Finally, Thomas Berkemeier (Max Planck Institute for Chemistry) presented a fascinating intersection between environmental chemistry and health, showing how computational models of air pollution effects help us understand the hidden mechanisms driving oxidative stress in the lungs.
On Thursday, Rebecca Shipley (University College London ) introduced a data-integrated vascular modeling framework with applications in oncology, neurology, and obstetrics, Vasileios Vavourakis (University of Cyprus) showcased the versatility of in silico models in cancer, and Lanie Gutierrez-Farewik (KTH Royal Institute of Technology) illustrated how biomechanics research is advancing assistive technologies and movement rehabilitation, especially for neuromuscular disorders.
On the last day, a special thematic workshop "(Dis)trust in in silico technologies" by Elisa Lievevrouw (Meaningful Interactions Lab, KU Leuven) explored emerging trends and encouraged in-depth exploration of critical topics, and Wafa Skalli (CBS Research fund on Clinical Biomechanics of the Spine) presented how subject-specific spine modeling is evolving from fundamental research into clinically useful tools for surgical planning, aiming to reduce complications and improve outcomes.
4 hands-on sessions held in the afternoons provided 15.5 hours of transversal training in key technological and methodological aspects of in silico medicine. On the final day, students who participated in the hands-on sessions showcased their projects, demonstrating the skills and knowledge they had acquired throughout the event. The Best Hands-on Award was given to the group who had worked on Patient-specific intervertebral disc modeling under the supervision of Estefano Muñoz and Sai Natarajan (UPF).
As part of its commitment to supporting young researchers and promoting education in in silico medicine, the VPH Institute awarded two travel vouchers to help students attend the School: congratulations to Mrinal Patnaik from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (Raipur, India) and Federica Cernuto from the University of Catania (Italy) for winning this year's award!
By enabling wider participation, the VPH aims to foster the next generation of scientists and ensure diverse voices contribute to advancing integrative and computational approaches in healthcare.
A heartfelt thank you to all the organisers, speakers, supporters, and participants whose dedication, insights, and energy made this event a true success—we look forward to continuing this journey together!
