In this episode of The Deep Dive, we explore the groundbreaking application of quantitative systems pharmacology (QSP) to one of medicine’s most complex challenges: inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Guided by research led by Katherine V. Rogers and colleagues, we unpack how advanced computational models are helping scientists understand the tangled web of immune pathways in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

You’ll learn how researchers built a dynamic, mechanistic model that simulates the human immune system in the gut capturing key players like T-cells, cytokines, and neutrophils and used it to mirror real-world patient responses to treatments like infliximab and ustekinumab. We explore how this virtual patient population can help identify likely drug responders, test combinations, and refine future clinical trials; all without stepping into a lab.

This episode isn’t just about math and molecules. It’s about a new way of thinking in medicine, and how computational tools are shaping the future of drug development and precision care.