Virtual Human Development

Dr. Shakiba co-founded Virtual Human Development (VHD), an international consortium, alongside Drs. Nozomu Yachie and Maria Abou Chakra. Bringing together more than 45 researchers around the world, VHD seeks to develop an in silico simulator of human development, capturing the transition from the single fertilized egg to the multicellular human body. The dynamic nature of the embryo over space and time makes this a complex challenge.

To meet this challenge, the international VHD consortium uniquely bridges empirical and theoretical experts to propel the experiment-to-theory cycles that are key to building the simulator. In the process, VHD seeks to catalyze new hypotheses for developmental biology. Akin to simulators of electric circuits and computer-aided design of buildings, the VHD simulator will accelerate regenerative medicine by enabling rapid rounds of optimization to yield robust stem cell and tissue engineering. The VHD simulation platform will not only unlock the mysteries of our origins, but will move us towards the era of rational cellular engineering.