A framework towards digital twins for type 2 diabetes

Front Digit Health. 2024 Jan 26:6:1336050. doi: 10.3389/fdgth.2024.1336050. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: A digital twin is a virtual representation of a patient's disease, facilitating real-time monitoring, analysis, and simulation. This enables the prediction of disease progression, optimization of care delivery, and improvement of outcomes.

Methods: Here, we introduce a digital twin framework for type 2 diabetes (T2D) that integrates machine learning with multiomic data, knowledge graphs, and mechanistic models. By analyzing a substantial multiomic and clinical dataset, we constructed predictive machine learning models to forecast disease progression. Furthermore, knowledge graphs were employed to elucidate and contextualize multiomic-disease relationships.

Results and discussion: Our findings not only reaffirm known targetable disease components but also spotlight novel ones, unveiled through this integrated approach. The versatile components presented in this study can be incorporated into a digital twin system, enhancing our grasp of diseases and propelling the advancement of precision medicine.

Keywords: digital twin; knowledge graph; machine learning; precision medicine; type 2 diabetes.

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.