Roman Hovorka
Principal Research Associate
Department of Paediatrics
Research Interests
Mathematical modeling to support diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases
Our aim is to support the diagnosis and treatment of metabolic diseases using mathematical modeling techniques with particular focus on diabetes. We use existing and develop new methods to quantify insulin sensitivity, insulin secretion, and metabolic fluxes under steady and non-steady state conditions with deterministic and stochastic modeling techniques. Our interest extends to developing in silico populations to inform and complement clinical trialing.
We are developing and testing a prototype of artificial pancreas in collaboration with Professor Dunger and Dr Acerini (Paediatrics). The artificial pancreas consists of a subcutaneous glucose monitor, a control algorithm, and an insulin pump and has the potential to revolutionize the treatment of subjects with type 1 diabetes as short- and midterm availability of other closed-loop control options is unlikely. The work includes the development of a computer-based simulation environment, where we will evaluate and optimise the system performance prior to clinical investigations. We are developing in silico population of children and adolescents treated by insulin with an appropriate representation of between and within subject variability.
We are also interested in insulin titration in critically ill subjects. Our control algorithm is being tested in four intensive care units across Europe and a collaboration with medical devices company has been secured to explore commercial exploitation. We have also developed an in silico population of critically ill subjects at surgical and medical ICU to test glucose controllers.
Our research is funded by EU FP6, the JDRF and EFSD.
Selected Publications
Elleri D, Acerini CL, Allen JM, Hayes J, Pesterfield C, Wilinska ME, Dunger DB, Hovorka R. Parental attitudes towards overnight closed-loop glucose control in children with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Technol Ther. 2010;12(1):35-9
Elleri D, Acerini CL, Allen JM, Larsen AM, Wilinska ME, Dunger DB, Hovorka R. Effect of delay on measurement of blood glucose levels in young subjects with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2009 86(2):e31-3.
Kumareswaran K, Evans ML, Hovorka R. Artificial pancreas: an emerging approach to treat Type 1 diabetes. Expert Rev Med Devices. 2009;6(4):401-10. Review. Abstract
Blaha J, Kopecky P, Matias M, Hovorka R, Kunstyr J, Kotulak T, Lips M, Rubes D, Stritesky M, Lindner J, Semrad M, Haluzik M. Comparison of three protocols for tight glycemic control in cardiac surgery patients. Diabetes Care. 2009;32(5):757-61.
Salgin B, Marcovecchio ML, Humphreys SM, Hill N, Chassin LJ, Lunn DJ, Hovorka R, Dunger DB. Effects of prolonged fasting and sustained lipolysis on insulin secretion and insulin sensitivity in normal subjects. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2009;296(3):E454-61.
Hovorka R, Chassin LJ, Ellmerer M, Plank J, Wilinska ME. A simulation model of glucose regulation in the critically ill. Physiol Meas. 2008;29(8):959-78.
Hovorka R. The future of continuous glucose monitoring: closed loop. Curr Diabetes Rev. 2008;4(3):269-79.
Cordingley JJ, Vlasselaers D, Dormand NC, Wouters PJ, Squire SD, Chassin LJ, Wilinska ME, Morgan CJ, Hovorka R, Van den Berghe G. Intensive insulin therapy: enhanced Model Predictive Control algorithm versus standard care.
Intensive Care Med. 2008; 35(1):123-8.
Pennant ME, Bluck LJ, Marcovecchio LM, Salgin B, Hovorka R, Dunger DB.
Insulin administration and rate of glucose appearance in people with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2008; 31(11):2183-7.
Pachler C, Plank J, Weinhandl H, Chassin LJ, Wilinska ME, Kulnik R, Kaufmann P, Smolle KH, Pilger E, Pieber TR, Ellmerer M, Hovorka R. Tight glycaemic control by an automated algorithm with time-variant sampling in medical ICU patients. Intensive Care Med. 2008; 34(7):1224-30.
Hovorka R, Kremen J, Blaha J, Matias M, Anderlova K, Bosanska L, Roubicek T, Wilinska ME, Chassin LJ, Svacina S, Haluzik M. Blood glucose control by a model predictive control algorithm with variable sampling rate versus a routine glucose management protocol in cardiac surgery patients: a randomized controlled trial.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2007;92(8):2960-4.
Hovorka R, Jayatillake H, Rogatsky E, Tomuta V, Hovorka T, Stein DT.
Calculating glucose fluxes during meal tolerance test: a new computational approach. Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab. 2007;293(2):E610-9.
R. Hovorka, M. E. Wilinska, L. J. Chassin, and D. B. Dunger. Roadmap to the artificial pancreas. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 74 Suppl 2:S178-S182, 2006. Abstract