Future path4 min read
Digital twins in medicine
A digital twin is a set of virtual information constructs that mimics the structure, context and behaviour of a real thing — such as a patient or a tumour — with two-way interaction between the virtual and the physical. In medicine, enthusiasm for the idea currently outweighs evidence of its success.
A report from the US National Academies (2023) holds that a digital twin of a cancer patient and their tumour may help with clinical decisions such as choosing treatment. A workshop of theirs in January 2023 discussed examples from cardiology (simulating blood flow in the heart), oncology (tumour response) and ophthalmology (retinopathy in premature infants).
Relying on digital twins requires robust verification, validation and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) processes, which the report describes as still a challenge, with no standard way of reporting it. The NIH Office of Data Science Strategy supports foundational research in developing biomedical digital twins.
- In widespread clinical use
- Approved for specific uses
- In clinical trials
- Preclinical
- Concept
Foundational research; the National Academies report (2023) describes the current enthusiasm as outpacing the evidence of success, and we did not find routine clinical use in this page's sources.
- Supporting cancer treatment decisionsConcept
A possibility raised by the National Academies report, not an existing application.1
- Simulating blood flow in the heart, tumour response and retinopathy in premature infants
Examples discussed at a research workshop in 2023.3
Status last checked: · What the maturity levels mean
What is this path?
A digital twin is a set of virtual information constructs that mimic the structure, context and behaviour of the real thing.
Two-way interaction between the virtual copy and the real original is the essence of a digital twin.
The virtual copy may include artificial intelligence models among its modelling elements.
Where does the research stand?
According to the National Academies report (December 2023), current interest and enthusiasm for digital twins outpace the evidence of their success.
The report holds that digital twins may improve medical decisions at the level of the individual patient, and gives possible examples including digital twins for patients with cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
A National Academies workshop on 30 January 2023 discussed examples from cardiology, oncology and ophthalmology.
A programme at the NIH aims to support foundational research in developing biomedical digital twins.
What separates it from clinical use?
Developing robust verification, validation and uncertainty quantification (VVUQ) processes is still a challenge, and there is no standard way to report them.
One speaker at the 2023 workshop considered that patients and doctors will not trust digital twins until the scientific community has fully accepted them.
The workshop summarised a view that a digital twin of any individual will not be fully de-identifiable, which raises questions about privacy.
Common questions
Can a "digital copy" of me be created today to choose my treatment?
We did not find anything in this page's sources indicating routine clinical use of this; the 2023 report holds that enthusiasm for the idea outpaces the evidence of its success, and that verifying the accuracy of these models is still a challenge.1
Questions for your doctor
- How is my health data used in any computer model, and how is its privacy protected?
- What is the evidence for the accuracy of any computer tool proposed for use in my treatment?
References
- 1National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Foundational Research Gaps and Future Directions for Digital Twins (Report Highlights) (2023). nap.nationalacademies.org/resource/26894/RH-digital-twins.pdfSystematic reviews · Accessed 2026-10-08
- 2NIH Office of Data Science Strategy. Foundations for Digital Twins as Catalyzers of Biomedical Technological Innovation. datascience.nih.gov/tools-and-analytics/digital-twinsHealth agencies & guidelines · Accessed 2026-10-08
- 3National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Opportunities and Challenges for Digital Twins in Biomedical Research: Proceedings of a Workshop — in Brief (2023). nap.nationalacademies.org/read/26922/chapter/1Systematic reviews · Accessed 2026-10-08
Review status: Edited content · Last updated:
Change log
- — Page created.
Educational content only — no diagnosis, and no substitute for a clinician.