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Revolution in medicine: Digital twins are changing therapy!
From the winter semester of 2025, the TU Dortmund will be offering an international master’s degree in “Biopharmaceutical Engineering” that promotes biomedical innovations.
Revolution in medicine: Digital twins are changing therapy!
Biopharmaceuticals is an exciting and dynamic field within drug development. Biopharmaceuticals based on complex molecules such as proteins or nucleic acids have gained enormous importance since the 1980s, when insulin was the first biopharmaceutical to come onto the market. Today, this type of drug already accounts for around 50 percent of all drugs; for blockbusters, this number is even between 80 and 90 percent. As a result, the demand for qualified specialists in this industry is constantly increasing. In order to meet this need, the Technical University of Dortmund is offering a new international master's degree program in the field of "Biopharmaceutical Engineering" that combines engineering science, biotechnology and IT knowledge.
The master's degree program aims to prepare students for the challenges and opportunities in the biopharmaceutical industry. The teaching content includes basic and subject-specific modules that ensure practical training. The focus is on modules such as “Biopharmaceutical Engineering”, “Process Analytical Technology” and the “Group Project”. Each student also completes a master's thesis in the fourth semester. The first events are designed to be hybrid to make it easier for international applicants to get started. Applications can be submitted until July 15th.
The role of digital innovations
In modern medicine, technologies are increasingly merging with traditional healing methods. In particular, the development of digital biomarkers and patient twins plays a central role in personalized medicine. Digital biomarkers are biologically measurable indicators that provide information about disease progression and therapeutic responses. An example of such a biomarker is chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which is often used to determine pregnancy. An increased hCG level can indicate various pathologies.
Digital twins, which represent virtual models of physical patients, use health data to precisely simulate disease progression. These technologies enable dynamic adjustment of therapies. Challenges in this area are data protection and the integration of heterogeneous data sources. An application-related example is the use of digital twins in oncology to simulate chemotherapy, which can potentially increase the efficiency of treatment.
Challenges and opportunities in healthcare
The rapid development in digital health not only brings benefits, but also raises important questions. For example, the diversity of the data collected is often discussed. Concerns exist that digital biomarkers may be inaccurate for certain ethnic groups, particularly those with darker skin, thereby exacerbating health disparities. Validation of this data is essential to ensure fair and reliable values.
Additionally, combatting cyber threats and protecting sensitive patient data is becoming increasingly urgent as healthcare increasingly moves to decentralized, community-based settings.
In summary, the combination of biopharma training and the development of innovative digital health solutions is crucial for the future of medicine. The TU Dortmund positions itself as a pioneer and offers students the opportunity to work in a constantly evolving medical environment.