Computational Physiology

Computational Physiology

The Computational Physiology Department's mission is to use mathematical modelling to gain insight into human health, disease, and treatment.  

In recent years, modelling and simulation of biophysical phenomena have matured in both scope and methodology. These methods have now reached a point where they can contribute significantly to the present the understanding of physiology and disease. The Computational Physiology (ComPhy) department at Simula is an integrated team of researchers working to develop cutting-edge biological simulation tools.

Department head

Hermenegild Arevalo

Hermenegild Arevalo

Chief Research ScientistHead of Department

Focus areas

A particular strength of the ComPhy department is its members’ diverse set of backgrounds and skill sets. Our broad expertise means we can enable research into numerical and computational methods to develop state-of-the-art simulation tools, as well as the targeted application of these tools to gain mechanistic insight into diverse biophysical phenomena.

The core focus of the ComPhy department is research into biophysical models of the heart, and modelling efforts span a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, from the investigation of detailed subcellular phenomena to organ-level analysis driven by clinical data.

Patient-Specific Modelling

Creation of computational models that simulate the structure and function of an individual's heart based on their specific anatomical and physiological characteristics. It involves using medical imaging data, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans, to construct a three-dimensional representation of the patient's heart. With the patient-specific anatomical and physiological data, computational algorithms and numerical methods are employed to simulate the behavior of the heart. These simulations can provide insights into various aspects of cardiac function, such as blood flow patterns, wall stresses, electrical activity, and response to therapies.

Data Driven Models

Development of computational models based on data obtained from various sources, such as medical records, clinical measurements, or experimental observations.

Instead of relying on detailed knowledge of the underlying physiological processes, data-driven models extract patterns and relationships directly from the available data to predict or simulate cardiac behaviour. Data-driven modelling of the heart can offer several advantages, such as the ability to capture complex interactions and patterns that may not be explicitly understood or accounted for in mechanistic models. It can also leverage large datasets to uncover novel insights or identify hidden relationships.

Key partners

Selected projects

Computational Physiology selected projects include the development of robust and accurate simulators for the electrical and mechanical behaviour of heart tissue, flow models of the cardiovascular system and fluid-structure interactions, as well as investigation of the role of cellular and tissue structure and function in excitable tissue. 

People in ComPhy

Hermenegild Arevalo

Hermenegild Arevalo

Chief Research ScientistHead of Department

Andy Edwards

Andy Edwards

Chief Research Scientist

Henrik Nicolay Finsberg

Henrik Nicolay Finsberg

Senior Research Engineer

Maria Perona Fjeldstad

Maria Perona Fjeldstad

External PhD student

Per Magne Florvaag

Per Magne Florvaag

Research Engineer

Nickolas Forsch

Nickolas Forsch

Research Engineer

Sergio Nabil Gadur

Sergio Nabil Gadur

PhD student

Kristian Gregorius Hustad

Kristian Gregorius Hustad

Affiliated PhD student

Karoline Horgmo Jæger

Karoline Horgmo Jæger

Senior Research Scientist

Ehsan Khalili

Ehsan Khalili

Postdoctoral Fellow

Henrik Kjeldsberg

Henrik Kjeldsberg

Affiliated PhD student

Molly Maleckar

Molly Maleckar

Research Professor

Giulia Monopoli

Giulia Monopoli

PhD student

Karl Munthe

Karl Munthe

PhD student

Lena Myklebust

Lena Myklebust

PhD student

Atle Eskeland Rimehaug

External PhD student

Mohammad Javad Sadeghinia

Mohammad Javad Sadeghinia

Postdoctoral Fellow

Lonneke Scheffer

External PhD student

Julie Johanne Uv

Julie Johanne Uv

PhD student

Kristian Valen-Sendstad

Kristian Valen-Sendstad

Chief Research Scientist

Samuel Wall

Samuel Wall

Chief Research Scientist/Research Professor

Kei Yamamoto

Kei Yamamoto

PhD student

Publications

Read Inverse estimation of cardiac activation times via gradient-based optimization

S. Kallhovd, M. Maleckar and M. E. Rognes

Inverse estimation of cardiac activation times via gradient-based optimization

International journal for numerical methods in biomedical engineering

Read simcardems: A FEniCS-based cardiac electro-mechanicssolver

H. Finsberg, I. G. M. van Herck, C. Daversin-Catty, H. Arevalo and S. Wall

simcardems: A FEniCS-based cardiac electro-mechanicssolver

Journal of Open Source Software

Read The simplified Kirchhoff network model (SKNM): a cell‐based reaction–diffusion model of excitable tissue

K. H. Jæger and A. Tveito

The simplified Kirchhoff network model (SKNM): a cell‐based reaction–diffusion model of excitable tissue

Nature Scientific Reports

Read The effects of cerebrospinal fluid and hyperelastic model on aneurysm wall vibration using high-fidelity fluid-structure interaction simulations

K. Yamamoto, D. Bruneau, D. Steinman and K. Valen-Sendstad

The effects of cerebrospinal fluid and hyperelastic model on aneurysm wall vibration using high-fidelity fluid-structure interaction simulations

Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, and Biotransport Conference

Read Stretch Harmonizes Sarcomere Strain Across the Cardiomyocyte

J. Li, J. Sundnes, Y. Hou, M. Laasmaa, M. Ruud, A. Unger, T. R. Kolstad, M. Frisk, P. A. Norseng, L. Yang, I. E. Setterberg, E. S. Alves, M. Kalakoutis, O. M. Sejersted, J. T. Lanner, W. A. Linke, I. G. Lunde, P. P. de Tombe and W. E. Louch

Stretch Harmonizes Sarcomere Strain Across the Cardiomyocyte

Circulation Research

Read SMART: Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reaction and Transport

J. G. Laughlin, J. S. Dokken, H. Finsberg, E. A. Francis, C. T. Lee, M. E. Rognes and P. Rangamani

SMART: Spatial Modeling Algorithms for Reaction and Transport

The Journal of Open Source Software

Read PO-01-207 VERNIX CASEOSA DISTRIBUTION MODULATES NON-INVASIVE FETAL ECG SIGNAL: A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY

J. Uv, L. Myklebust and H. J. Arevalo

PO-01-207 VERNIX CASEOSA DISTRIBUTION MODULATES NON-INVASIVE FETAL ECG SIGNAL: A COMPUTATIONAL STUDY

Heart Rhythm

Read Onset and nature of flow-induced vibrations in cerebral aneurysms via fluid–structure interaction simulationsAbstract

D. A. Bruneau, K. Valen-Sendstad and D. A. Steinman

Onset and nature of flow-induced vibrations in cerebral aneurysms via fluid–structure interaction simulationsAbstract

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology

Read On The Importance of Fundamental Computational Fluid Dynamics Towards a Robust and Reliable Model of Left Atrial Flows: Is There More Than Meets the Eye?

E. Khalili, C. Daversin-Catty, A. L. Olivares, J. Mill, O. Camara and K. Valen-Sendstad

On The Importance of Fundamental Computational Fluid Dynamics Towards a Robust and Reliable Model of Left Atrial Flows: Is There More Than Meets the Eye?

International journal of numerical methods in biomedical engineering

Read Nano-scale solution of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations in a fraction of two neighboring cells reveals the magnitude of intercellular electrochemical waves

K. H. Jæger, E. Ivanovic, J. P. Kucera and A. Tveito

Nano-scale solution of the Poisson-Nernst-Planck (PNP) equations in a fraction of two neighboring cells reveals the magnitude of intercellular electrochemical waves

PLoS Computational Biology

Read Multiscale computational modeling of the effects of 2’-deoxy-ATP on cardiac muscle calcium handling

M. T. Hock, A. Teitgen, K. J. McCabe, S. P. Hirakis, G. Huber, M. Regnier, R. E. Amaro, A. J. McCammon and A. D. McCulloch

Multiscale computational modeling of the effects of 2’-deoxy-ATP on cardiac muscle calcium handling

Journal of Applied Physics

Read In silico Investigation of Sex-Specific Osteoarthritis in Human Articular Chondrocytes

K. Ngo, N. T. Herrera, M. Folkmanaite, K. Yamamoto and M. M. Maleckar

In silico Investigation of Sex-Specific Osteoarthritis in Human Articular Chondrocytes

Browse all publications