Dell Technologies and i2b2 tranSMART Foundation Create "Digital Twins" to Treat Long-Haul COVID-19

Rhea-AI Summary

Dell Technologies (NYSE: DELL) collaborates with i2b2 tranSMART Foundation to develop digital twins for long-haul COVID-19 treatment. This initiative leverages large-scale de-identified patient data to create virtual models for personalized treatment simulations. The project aims to aid researchers in delivering more precise therapies based on individual medical history and genetics. Initially, the data enclave will support analysis for 70,000 patients, with potential expansion to two million digital twins by 2025, enhancing global research collaboration against long COVID.

Positive

• Collaboration with i2b2 tranSMART Foundation enhances research capabilities for long-haul COVID treatment.
• Development of a secure data enclave using Dell EMC technology supports extensive patient data analysis.
• Potential to create up to two million digital twins in the next four years, improving treatment precision.

Negative

• None.

ROUND ROCK, Texas, May 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 

News summary

• COVID-19 Long haulers study to create personalized health risk scores and drug treatment recommendations based on patients' unique medical history and genetics
• AI-driven research and digital twins will support hospitals and research centers globally and contribute to Dell's goal to use technology and scale to advance health, education and economic opportunity for 1 billion people by 2030

Full story

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) is helping i2b2 tranSMART Foundation, a non-profit open-source research organization, mobilize huge amounts of global de-identified patient data to create virtual models of patients – known as digital twins – to treat impacts of long-haul COVID-19.

Through Dell Technologies' modern infrastructure, the i2b2 tranSMART community will use de-identified patient data to produce digital twins. Researchers can then perform millions of individualized treatment simulations on the digital twins to determine the best possible therapy option for patients, based on genetic background and medical history.

To make this possible and provide the computational, artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced storage capabilities to generate digital twins, Dell Technologies built a data enclave – a secure data storage network – comprised of Dell EMC PowerEdge, PowerStore and PowerScale storage systems, as well as VMware Workspace ONE and Boomi integration services. In the data enclave, researchers gather, store and analyze data scattered across various monitoring systems and electronic health records and in the future will have the capability to update the digital twins with real-time clinical data collected through ventilator and cardiac monitors. 

"This project is a perfect example of the global research and technology community coming together to support people who are suffering from a condition that is not well understood," said Jeremy Ford, vice president of strategic giving and social innovation, Dell Technologies. "Working together with the i2b2 tranSMART Foundation, we will apply our expertise and technology to build digital twins, share data, conduct simulations and analyses – using these insights to help understand and better treat patients with long-haul COVID."  

Initially, researchers will use the data enclave to power 70,000 patients' tests, simulations and analyses, which will be shared with the 4CE Consortium, an international coalition of more than 200 hospitals and research centers including data collaboratives across the US, France, Germany, Italy, Singapore, Spain, Brazil, India and the United Kingdom. This effort has the potential to expand with data for up to two million digital twins in the next four years. 

Understanding and treating long-haul COVID

An estimated 1 in 20 people with COVID-19 are likely to experience long-term symptoms, ranging from profound fatigue, brain fog, headaches, cardiac arrhythmia, fevers and shortness of breath. So-called long haulers suffer from what is known formally as Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). Little is known about why some continue to be affected after the virus has left the body or about the long-term impacts.

To learn more, The National Institutes of Health recently announced the first phase of a four-year, billion-dollar initiative to support PASC research.

Research on this condition requires colossal amounts of patient data. Working directly with the 4CE Consortium, the i2b2 tranSMART Foundation has supported the mobilization of data from a network of more than 200 institutions worldwide. To protect the privacy of patients, all data is de-identified before it is submitted to the 4CE Consortium.

"At this stage, healthcare professionals are breaking new ground by developing and evaluating the efficacy of COVID-19 treatments," said Dr. Shawn Murphy, i2b2 tranSMART Foundation board member. "This new AI-driven platform will help them use the explosion of research findings to deliver better care and precision treatments for their patients. By creating these digital twins, we are taking clinical research to a whole new level."

Additional resources

• Blog: How the Power of AI is Helping COVID-19 Long-Haulers 
• Infographic: Digital Twin 'Long Hauler' Research
• Progress Made Real social impact plan and 2030 goals

About Dell Technologies

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL) helps organizations and individuals build their digital future and transform how they work, live and play. The company provides customers with the industry's broadest and most innovative technology and services portfolio for the data era.

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SOURCE Dell Technologies

FAQ

What is Dell Technologies doing to help long-haul COVID-19 patients?

Dell Technologies is partnering with i2b2 tranSMART Foundation to create digital twins for personalized treatment of long-haul COVID-19.

How will Dell's digital twins benefit researchers?

The digital twins will allow researchers to conduct millions of individualized treatment simulations, improving therapy options based on genetic and medical history.

What technology is Dell using for the digital twin project?

Dell is utilizing its EMC PowerEdge, PowerStore, and PowerScale systems along with VMware and Boomi services to create a secure data enclave.

How many patients' data will be analyzed initially in the project?

The project will initially analyze data for 70,000 patients, with plans to expand to two million digital twins over the next four years.

What is the goal of the collaboration between Dell and i2b2 tranSMART Foundation?

The goal is to leverage technology to advance health research, specifically for understanding and treating long-haul COVID-19.