A human simulation tool, the Virtual Human, is under development at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in Tennessee. The Virtual Human (VH) will be a research/testing environment having an integrated system of biophysical and other models, data and advanced computational algorithms coupled with a computational (engineering) solid-body model of the anatomy. VH will have a Web-based interface for easy, rapid access from several points of entry. VH will serve as a platform for national and international users from governments, academia, and industry to investigate the widest range of human biological and physical responses to stimuli, be they biological, chemical, or physical. This effort goes far beyond the visualization of anatomy to incorporate physics, such as mechanical and electrical tissue properties, and biology from physiology to biochemical information, into the platform so that responses to varied stimuli can be predicted mechanistically and results viewed three-dimensionally.

The Virtual Human will provide multiple new capabilities to both military and civilian sectors. For example, VH will provide the capability of evaluating the effectiveness and safety levels for non-lethal technologies and the effectiveness of advanced clothing and armor. VH will also provide the ability to simulate training scenarios involving new equipment and methods and the capability of testing vehicle designs for safety. In conjunction with a time history of telemetered medical data, VH will provide assistance in emergency medical procedures and triage. Biomedical applications might include prosthesis design, evaluation of microgravity effects, personal medical informatics for diagnosis, patient education, and therapeutics selection. Use of the Virtual Human will minimize the need for human subjects being involved in testing and also reduce the need for animal studies.

ORNL is uniquely equipped to pioneer this development of the Virtual Human due to our experience with numerous anatomical and biokinetic models, databases, informatics and visualization capabilities, as well as the supercomputing and massive data storage devices required for this Grand Challenge problem. Other organizations have much to contribute to the development of the Virtual Human, from supplying user requirements to contributing technical development of physiological models. We invite groups with interest and experience in related topical areas to join with ORNL to help refine the focus of this program and contribute to its development.

The Virtual Human will be the premier human simulation environment of the 21st Century - the Century of Biology - being assembled today at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Contact Clay Easterly easterlyce@ornl.gov of the Life Sciences Division at (865) 574-6254 or Richard Ward wardrc1@ornl.gov of the Computational Physics and Engineering Division at (865) 574-5449 if you are interested in becoming involved as a contributor, user, or sponsor of this exciting and futuristic project.