Trieste, SISSA | 2 days of learning, exchange, and hands-on science
The Research School “Digital Twins of the Human Body”, held at SISSA in Trieste, brought together researchers, developers, and early-career scientists for two intensive days dedicated to biomedical modelling, high-performance computing, and advanced numerical methods.
Organised within the framework of the dealiiX project, the school focused on state-of-the-art modelling and simulation of human organs using the deal.II finite element library, combining theoretical foundations with practical, hands-on experience. Over the course of the event, participants explored how cutting-edge algorithms and HPC technologies are shaping the next generation of digital twins for healthcare.
Day 1: From Biomedical Modelling to Hands-On Simulation
The first day set the stage with a strong focus on biomedical applications, bridging physical modelling and numerical implementation.
The morning opened with a Biomedical Modelling Session, addressing fundamental questions in mechanobiology and tissue mechanics:
- The mechanobiology of cell motility, presented by A. Salvadori (University of Brescia), explored how mechanical forces influence cellular behaviour.
- Poro-viscoelasticity of brain tissue, presented by A. Greiner (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg), introduced modelling strategies and inverse parameter identification techniques relevant to brain mechanics.
This was followed by a hands-on tutorial on modelling alveolar structures and surfactant dynamics using ExaDG, led by B. Temür (TU München), giving participants direct exposure to realistic lung modelling workflows.
In the afternoon, the focus shifted to algorithmic innovation for digital twins:
- G. Rozza (SISSA) presented approaches to accelerating CFD simulations through model reduction and scientific and physics-informed machine learning, highlighting their role in digital twin development.
- A. Cangiani and P.C. Africa (SISSA) discussed polytopic mesh methods and their implementation within deal.II.
The day concluded with an extended hands-on session on the mechanobiology of cell motility, led by M. Serpelloni (University of Brescia), reinforcing the strong link between theory, algorithms, and application.
Day 2: High-Performance Algorithms and Cardiac Modelling
The second day deepened the focus on high-performance finite element methods, solvers, and scalable implementations, while continuing to connect algorithmic advances with biomedical use cases.
The morning featured in-depth algorithmic sessions:
- M. Kronbichler (Ruhr University Bochum) presented matrix-free finite element algorithms, a cornerstone for extreme-scale simulations.
- L. Heltai (University of Pisa) discussed scalable and optimal preconditioners for coupled multiphysics problems, addressing performance and robustness at scale.
- P. Amestoy (MUMPS Technologies) showcased recent advances in MUMPS, a key massively parallel solver for sparse linear systems.
Participants then engaged in a hands-on tutorial on PSCToolkit, led by S. Filippone (University of Rome Tor Vergata), exploring practical tools for high-performance scientific computing.
In the afternoon, attention returned to biomedical digital twins:
- C. Belponer (WIAS Berlin) presented models for vascularised tissues, coupling 3D elastic matrices with 1D vascular networks.
- L. Dedè (Politecnico di Milano) introduced computational cardiac models within the iHEART simulator, highlighting clinical relevance and modelling challenges.
The school concluded with a final hands-on cardiac simulation session using lifex, led by M. Bucelli (Politecnico di Milano), allowing participants to directly apply the methods discussed throughout the event.
A Strong Community and Shared Vision
Beyond the technical content, the Research School stood out for the quality of exchanges and collaboration among participants and speakers. Discussions throughout the two days highlighted the breadth of work carried out by dealiiX consortium partners and the value of bringing together expertise from numerical analysis, HPC, and biomedical sciences.
The event successfully reinforced dealiiX’s mission:
to advance exascale-ready simulation technologies and foster a skilled, connected community capable of turning digital twin research into real-world healthcare impact.
We thank all speakers, tutors, and participants for making this Research School a success, and SISSA for hosting two days of inspiring scientific exchange.
