University of Virginia (UVA) Center for Diabetes Technology and Novo Nordisk have announced that they have entered into a five-year research collaboration.

The two collaborators will work together on the development of virtual environments focused on modelling of patients with type 2 diabetes.

A ‘virtual innovation lab’

The goal of the collaboration is to enable simulation of the human metabolic system of different types of individual people with type 2 diabetes and simulating virtual patient populations. The research collaboration will utilize UVA’s work within diabetes and knowledge on patient simulation and data-driven models within diabetes. Aligned with Novo Nordisk’s digital therapeutics strategy, the research collaboration will initially focus on establishing a ‘virtual innovation lab’ between Novo Nordisk and University of Virginia Center for Diabetes Technology to gain a deep understanding of type 2 diabetes for the purpose of enabling virtual simulation.

“We are pleased to announce our collaboration with UVA’s Center for Diabetes Technology whose demonstrated capabilities in virtual patient modelling will help enable us to create a highly differentiated approach to the treatment of type 2 diabetes,” said Kenneth Strømdahl, senior vice president for Device R&D in Novo Nordisk. “This important research collaboration reflects Novo Nordisk’s enduring commitment to innovation within the area of digital therapeutics and changing the lives for people living with type 2 diabetes.”

UVA and Novo Nordisk will initially dedicate around 15 employees to the collaboration and expect the support to grow as the research develops.

Aerial photo of NN1 and NN2, Novo Nordisk Danish headquarters in Bagsværd. Inaugurated 2014. Architects: Henning Larsen