Intelligent Cardiovascular Digital Twin and Adaptive Control for Clinical and Sport Applications
Loughborough UniversityLoughborough, United Kingdom
Course overview
Are you passionate about robotics, biomedical engineering, control systems, and revolutionizing healthcare? This PhD opportunity offers the chance to develop a groundbreaking intelligent framework that will redefine how we monitor, model, and regulate cardiac function, for both patients and elite athletes. Cardiovascular diseases remain one of the most significant global health challenges, affecting over 7.6 million people in the UK and responsible for approximately one-third of all deaths worldwide.
Despite advances in monitoring technologies, current approaches rely on simplified models that fail to capture individual physiological variability. This research will change that. You will develop a personalised cardiovascular digital twin — a dynamic, data-driven virtual model of the heart — integrated with an adaptive closed-loop control system capable of real-time cardiac regulation using only ECG signals.
This research sits at the intersection of nonlinear dynamical modelling, machine learning, and advanced control engineering, with transformative applications in clinical healthcare, wearable medical devices, and sport performance optimisation. As a PhD candidate, you will: This research has the potential to transform how cardiovascular conditions are diagnosed, monitored, and treated. From intelligent pacemaker control to wearable sport performance tools, your work will directly bridge the gap between advanced engineering and real-world clinical and athletic need.
The outcomes will contribute to the global agenda on personalised medicine and digital health innovation. 94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021
Key highlights
- Develop a personalised, data-driven digital twin of the human heart
- Design adaptive closed-loop control for real-time cardiac regulation from ECG
- Combines nonlinear dynamical modelling, machine learning and advanced control engineering
- Applications span clinical healthcare, wearable medical devices and sport performance
- Research could inform intelligent pacemaker control and wearable athlete tools
Entry requirements
- Degree: 2:1 — 2:1
Scholarships
Alumni Bursary
10% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 10% of feesAlumni Discount
UK students: £1,500 tuition fee discount for one academic year. International students: £3,000 tuition fee discount for one academic year.
Care Leaver's Scholarship
Excellence Scholarships
UK students: £3,000 off tuition fees; International students: £6,000 off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary
Our International Sports Student Postgraduate Bursary offers a £12,000 tuition fee discount (set against the tuition fees of your chosen postgraduate taught programme ONLY).
Up to £12,000London 10th Anniversary Award
£5,000 off tuition fees.
Up to £5,000Loughborough Business School Scholarship
£1,500 (UK students) and £3,000 (international students) off tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
MBA Progress with Purpose Scholarship
50% of tuition fees which will be credited to the student’s tuition fee account.
Up to 50% of feesQatari Ghanim Al-Muftah Excellence Scholarship
Careers this course leads to
- Biomedical engineering researcher
- Control systems engineer
- Medical device engineer
- Machine learning engineer (digital health)
- Postdoctoral research associate
- Sports technology engineer
Cost of study
UK/Home: £5,238 | International: £29,500
Admission
Applications are made through AHZ at no cost. Share your transcripts, English test scores and personal statement, and your AHZ Counsellor will review your profile, submit your application to Loughborough University, and guide you through interview, offer, CAS and visa — right up to enrolment.
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