STAT+: Digital twins, the holy grail of preventative health, are still only a ‘Frankensteinian proof of principle’

Back to news list

Source: STAT News

Original: https://www.statnews.com/2026/02/24/digital-twins-health-care-hype-reality/?utm_...

Published: Tue, 24 Feb 2026 09:30:00 +0000

Digital twins are a digital representation of the state of human health or disease at different levels of the human anatomy.[1] They are created using software models and data to mimic and predict the behavior of physical counterparts, including interactions with other diseases.[1] Advances in artificial intelligence, genomics, patient outcomes, and drug performance are bringing this technology closer to reality. [original content] The key potential lies in targeted prevention, personalized clinical practices, and supporting healthcare professionals in virtual environments.[1] Examples of uses include clinical drug trials, medical training, and surgical planning.[1] The European Virtual Human Twin Initiative is supporting their development with an additional €20 million for measures in comprehensive stroke management using predictive models and integrated data.[1] Currently, digital twins in healthcare are just a "Frankensteinian proof of principle". [original content]