ELEM-authored research investigating drug-induced cardiac risk in vulnerable populations has received the 2026 SPS Technological Innovation Publication Award.
The paper, “Can in silico models predict drug-induced cardiac risk in vulnerable populations?”, is published in Toxicology Reports, volume 16, article 102179.
About the Publication
The study used 512 virtual subjects representing healthy hearts and five pathological conditions: heart failure, dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ischaemia and myocardial infarction. It investigated disease- and sex-dependent variation in simulated cardiac responses, including QT prolongation and arrhythmic susceptibility.
The work addresses a relevant question for cardiac-safety research:
how can assessments explore populations and disease contexts that healthy cohorts may not adequately represent?
Virtual Populations and Cardiac Safety
Virtual populations provide a way to investigate these differences under defined modelling assumptions. Applying them to a particular programme requires evaluating intended use, supporting evidence and uncertainty, alongside other safety data.
ELEM Biotech and Safety Pharmacology Society Recognitions
The recognition follows second place in the 2025 SPS 3Rs Best Abstract Award for “Enhancing Safety and Efficacy of Pharmacological Therapy in HFrEF Through Computational Modelling of Myocardial Contractility”.
The earlier abstract and the 2026 publication address different research questions and were recognised in separate SPS award categories.
ELEM thanks the Safety Pharmacology Society for recognising this research and congratulates all the authors and collaborators.
Have a Population-Specific Cardiac-Safety Question?
If you want to explore the suitability of virtual clinical trials for a defined evidence gap, we’d be glad to discuss it
Interested in the technology used in this research?
Read the publication: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2025.102179
