Gilbertson RJ, Behjati S, Böttcher AL, Bronner ME, Burridge M, Clausing H, Clifford H, Danaher T, Donovan LK, Drost J, Eggermont AMM, Emerson C, Flores MG, Hamerlik P, Jabado N, Jones A, Kaessmann H, Kleinman CL, Kool M, Kutscher LM, Lindberg G, Linnane E, Marioni JC, Maris JM, Monje M, Macaskill A, Niederer S, Northcott PA, Peeters E, Plieger-van Solkema W, Preußner L, Rios AC, Rippe K, Sandford P, Sgourakis NG, Shlien A, Smith P, Straathof K, Sullivan PJ, Suvà ML, Taylor MD, Thompson E, Vento-Tormo R, Wainwright BJ, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Westermann F, Winslade S, Al-Lazikani B, Pfister SM. The Virtual Child. Cancer Discov. 2024 Apr 4;14(4):663-668. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-23-1500. PMID: 38571421.
Abstract
We are building the world’s first Virtual Child-a computer model of normal and cancerous human development at the level of each individual cell. The Virtual Child will “develop cancer” that we will subject to unlimited virtual clinical trials that pinpoint, predict, and prioritize potential new treatments, bringing forward the day when no child dies of cancer, giving each one the opportunity to lead a full and healthy life.