# The Virtual Stomach

> **NIH NIH OT2** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $824,242

## Abstract

In this project, we propose to develop the Virtual Stomach - a comprehensive model of
stomach anatomy and function for developing electroceutical treatment of digestive disorders
and conditions. This project will complement another ongoing project (#: OD023847; PI:
Powley), which focuses on “the living stomach”, by bridging modeling and physiology to develop
simulations that will predict parameters for neuromodulation of gastric conditions. Our
integration of anatomy and physiology to models and simulations for translational applications
will realize neuromodulation therapies.
To accomplish our objective, the project consists of three major tasks. Briefly, we will represent
knowledge about the stomach as an atlas and a knowledge graph (Task 1), model the stomach
at cell, tissue and organ levels (Task 2), and simulate electromechanical function of the stomach
and its responses to neuromodulation therapies (Task 3).
Task 1: Building an atlas and knowledge graph representation of the stomach
1.1: Define cell/neurite types and standardize gastric ontology into a knowledge graph
1.2: Characterize synaptic inputs to gastric motor neurons by chemistry and origin
1.3: Delineate ICC relationships to vagal innervation
1.4: Embed structural and functional data onto the anatomical scaffold
1.5: Parcellate the stomach
1.6: Compare rat and human stomach for forward/backward translation
Task 2: Modeling the rat and human stomach in multiple scales
2.1: Model gastric anatomy, incorporating major muscle layers
2.2: Model electrophysiology of interstitial cells of Cajal, smooth muscle cells, and their coupling
2.3: Model neural control circuits and innervation of interstitial cells of Cajal and smooth muscles
2.4: Model gastric slow wave propagation in relation to neural innervation
2.5: Model active-tension and passive constitution relationships of gastric smooth muscles
Task 3: Simulating gastric electrophysiology and motility given neuromodulation
3.1: Simulate normal gastric slow wave activity and its neural control
3.2: Simulate gastric motility coupled to gastric slow wave and neural activity
3.3: Simulate neuromodulation protocols and their effects on gastric motility
3.4: Validate model simulations with experimental observations
This Virtual Stomach will embed existing knowledge into a credible (see here ) and sustainable
resource, be computable, learnable and testable end-to-end, and be searchable and reusable
with data analytics. This model will provide a platform to standardize reporting and integration of
research findings on stomach anatomy and physiology, enable rapid prototyping and testing of
neuromodulation therapies in silico before and complementary to preclinical and clinical studies,
and serve as a biophysical model of the living stomach suitable for closed-loop
neuromodulation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10467631
- **Project number:** 3OT2OD030538-01S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Leo Cheng
- **Activity code:** OT2 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $824,242
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2020-09-16 → 2023-09-15

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10467631

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10467631, The Virtual Stomach (3OT2OD030538-01S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10467631. Licensed CC0.

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