2025 VPHi Best Thesis in In Silico Medicine winner is Elena Redaelli from the University of Zaragoza
We’re thrilled to spotlight the outstanding research behind 2025 VPHi Best Thesis in In Silico Medicine award, won by Elena Redaelli from the University of Zaragoza. Her doctoral research presents a novel approach to characterising the mechanical properties of the cornea in vivo in real-time through a combination of high-fidelity in silico models and artificial intelligence techniques.
The cornea’s structural characteristics—such as stiffness and anisotropy—directly influence how the eye refracts light and are not constant: they vary between individuals and can evolve due to ageing, disease (e.g., keratoconus, glaucoma), or surgical intervention.
Dr Redaelli’s work addresses a key challenge: estimating corneal mechanical properties in real time and non-invasively. Current in vitro tests (uniaxial, biaxial, or inflation) are limited by their inability to capture in vivo behaviour or patient-specific conditions. Instead, she proposes a methodology based on Non-Contact Tonometry (NCT), high-fidelity Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) modeling, and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN).
She used in silico models to create a virtual twin of the patient’s eye, simulating how the cornea reacts when a puff of air is blown onto it—a test already used in clinics (called Non-Contact Tonometry).
Using this digital eye, she developed a new methodology to estimate the intraocular pressure (IOP) and she trained AI models to predict the unique mechanical properties of the patient’s cornea—something that’s never been done in real time before. Moreover, the model can make these predictions in just milliseconds—fast enough to be integrated into real clinical tools.
Validating this new approach with lab tests and applying it to larger groups of patients could give us, for the first time, a clear picture of how corneal properties vary across the population.
Elena Redaelli’s thesis is a perfect example of how in silico medicine can improve healthcare with to more accurate diagnoses, better surgical planning, and personalised eye care.
"I’m truly honoured to receive this award—it’s a wonderful recognition of the work I’ve been passionate about for years, and I’m deeply grateful to everyone who supported me along the way," Dr Redaelli said. "Knowing that this work can directly improve patients’ lives by enabling timely treatment and preserving vision is a powerful motivation that drives me every day as a researcher."
Elena Redaelli is currently working as a post-doctoral research fellow at Instituto de Óptica Daza de Valdés, (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain), where her research focuses on developing advanced tools based on in silico simulations for the earlier and more accurate diagnosis of ocular diseases.
We heard more about her research directly from her during the 8th VPH Summer School in Barcelona, on Monday Monday 2 June 2025. The recordings will be made available soon on our YouTube Channel.
Congratulations again to the winner, to the three outstanding finalists Julia Musgrave (University of Auckland), Patricia Martinez Dìaz (Karlsruher Institut für Technologie), Robyn Walker May (University of Auckland), and all the applicants for their remarkable contributions!
