In July 2010, the Federal Minister for Education and Research, Annette Schavan announced the funding of a research project to create a web-based virtual model of a human liver which will help to develop and administer medicines that are best suited to patient needs. 

The liver produces more than 10 000 substances on a daily basis and thus, it can be seen as a complex biochemical factory. To understand this process closely and develop, in the event of a disease, a medicine tailored to the needs of the patient, researchers will create a virtual model of a human liver. This is the first time ever that an entire human organ will be imaged in a computer.

In the next five years, the Federal Ministry for Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung - BMBF, in German) will fund - with approximately €43 million - the German Network for Systems Biology of the Liver.

"Germany holds a leading position internationally in terms of biological medical systems. With this unique network, the researchers open up new perspectives for medicine," commented the Minister. The new scientific discipline of systems explores the entire biological process: from the functioning of the individual molecules, to the interaction of various cells and finally the organs in the body. These methods of molecular biology are linked with the knowledge and technologies of mathematics, computer science, chemistry, physics and systems science.

The interdisciplinary Network for Systems Biology of the Liver currently consists of 70 research groups from 41 institutions from the scientific and industry sectors. Using the computer simulations will enable them to have a better understanding and foresee the functioning of the liver and how it is affected by various diseases. Researchers also aim to examine via simulations the way different medicines are being distributed throughout the body, which parts are attacked by the medicine and how fast it can be eliminated from the body. This initiative is expected to reduce the duration of long-lasting experiments and to develop specific drugs and dosage customised to meet each patient's needs. Hence, thanks to this development, the positive results will be maximised while the side effects will be minimised.

"Systems biology can accelerate the transfer of research on saving patients, money and on developing medicines. It is therefore a key technology and an innovative driving force for a future personalised medicine," pointed out the Minister.

The researchers can work on the virtual liver based on the promising results of the previous project named the HepatoSys, which has investigated since 2004 with BMBF's support, the cellular processes of the liver. Now the processes in all cell networks studied up to the entire body.

Further information:

• Official Press Release - Ministry of Education and Research (in German)
• HepatoSys Project (in German)