Jun 26, 2025
Sim4Life V9.0: Moving Toward a Universal Tool for Computational Health & Life Sciences
Sim4Life V9.0 Release
Sim4Life V9.0 is designed with a focus on extendability and enhancement of cloud-powered performance. Version 9.0 now includes new tools for optimization, artificial intelligence (AI-) driven segmentation, and plugin support to facilitate powerful, automated workflows throughout the entire modeling chain. Sim4Life V9.0 – available for both web and desktop – delivers more power, flexibility, and integration to your simulation workflows.
Significant Enhancements in V9.0
Unified Ecosystem
Sim4Life.web V9.0 is now fully integrated with the o²S²PARC platform, providing access to a comprehensive computational ecosystem originally developed under the SPARC program of the U.S. National Institutes of Health initiated to advance bioelectronic medicine. The o²S²PARC cloud-based platform connects specialized simulation tools, data analysis pipelines, and computational models across health and life sciences research communities, enabling complex multi-disciplinary workflows that bridge electromagnetic modeling, neural stimulation analysis, and therapeutic outcome prediction.
The transformative power of the o²S²PARC ecosystem has already been demonstrated through, e.g., novel convolutional neural network (CNN-) based image segmentation pipelines for individualized spinal cord stimulation modeling [1], precision non-invasive brain stimulation through comprehensive in silico personalization pipelines [2], and activity-dependent spinal cord neuromodulation that restores motor function after complete paralysis due to spinal cord injury [3]. These breakthrough studies exemplify how the integrated o²S²PARC environment enables investigations not accessible to researchers using isolated and limited simulation tools.
[1] A. Fasse et al., “A novel CNN-based image segmentation pipeline for individualized feline spinal cord stimulation modeling,” J. Neural Eng., vol. 21, no. 3, p. 036032, Jun. 2024, doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/ad4e6b.
[2] F. Karimi et al., “Precision non-invasive brain stimulation: an in silico pipeline for personalized control of brain dynamics,” J. Neural Eng., vol. 22, no. 2, p. 026061, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.1088/1741-2552/adb88f.
[3] A. Rowald et al., “Activity-dependent spinal cord neuromodulation rapidly restores trunk and leg motor functions after complete paralysis,” Nat Med, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 260–271, Feb. 2022, doi: 10.1038/s41591-021-01663-5.
The full integration with the o²S²PARC platform allows users to combine Sim4Life’s multiphysics capabilities with specialized third-party tools, automate data exchange, and visualize results across the entire ecosystem – all within a unified graphical environment.
Third-Party Plugin Integration
The new open plugin framework allows users to integrate their own or third-party simulators and solvers, such as FEniCS and SionnaRT, thereby expanding the range of supported physics applications and enabling custom workflows, all within a unified interface. These plugin simulators can then take advantage of Sim4Life’s powerful modeling, preprocessing, cloud computing, and post-processing functionalities.
In Sim4Life V9.0, users can easily add and configure a third-party solver, such as the ray-tracing solver SionnaRT, via the new plugin framework. The plugin, which is integrated into the Sim4Life workflow, enables users to set up, execute, and post-process simulations from external solvers within the familiar Sim4Life environment – leveraging Sim4Life's computer aided design, meshing, and visualization tools for a streamlined but extendable workflow.
Rich Automated Workflows
The new pipelining and workflow environment allows users to build, automate, and share advanced multi-stage simulation pipelines. Whether optimizing devices, ensuring regulatory compliance, or conducting fundamental research, users can now connect applications – in an automated manner – across the Sim4Life ecosystem for reproducible and collaborative research.
Sim4Life V9.0 and o²S²PARC enable precision spinal cord stimulation planning for paraplegic patients. Personalized patient anatomy is reconstructed from from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, simulations are run in the cloud, and optimal stimulation patterns are identified – all in a streamlined pipeline. The new workflow environment in Sim4Life connects each stage for automated, reproducible, and collaborative research at the bench and in the clinic.
Cloud Scalability – Now on the Desktop, Too
With native cloud integration, users can submit and manage simulations directly from either the Sim4Life desktop or web interface, leveraging scalable central processing unit and graphics processing unit resources on demand and gaining access to a nearly infinite pool of powerful high-performance computing infrastructure. Transparent job tracking, real-time cost monitoring, and one-click publishing make managing large-scale projects effortless, no matter where you are.
In Sim4Life V9.0, simulations can be launched from the desktop and managed in the cloud, with real-time monitoring of job status, resource utilization, and costs. Whether working locally or remotely, users can scale up to powerful cloud resources, and track progress with a single click – making large-scale simulation campaigns effortless and transparent.
Advanced Anatomical Modeling and AI-Powered Tools
Sim4Life V9.0 takes anatomical realism one step further: the Virtual Population (ViP) and Virtual Zoo (ViZoo) libraries are complemented by new and upgraded AI-powered segmentation tools and tools for head-related modeling (e.g., automatic 10-10 system electrode placement, AI-powered registration of brain and head atlases, etc.) and automated trunk segmentation from MRI/computed tomography images to streamline model creation. The expanded tissue property database that now includes updated thermal and water content data is proof of ongoing efforts to ensure that the tissue material properties used in Sim4Life simulations remains reliable and up-to-date.
Anatomical modeling tools in Sim4Life V9.0 allow users to interactively pose and morph ViP models, apply AI-powered segmentation to medical images for rapid organ delineation, and access an expanded tissue property database with updated thermal and water content data. These capabilities serve to streamline model creation and increase the physiological realism of simulations.
A Preview of Surrogate Modeling, Optimization, and Uncertainty Quantification
The Sim4Life V9.0 innovative meta-modeling framework leverages state-of-the-art intelligent algorithms, e.g., from the Dakota Project (Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque NM, USA), for surrogate modeling, optimization, and uncertainty quantification applied to integrated simulation pipelines. Efficient design-of-experiment tools and advanced uncertainty propagation provide deeper insights into model sensitivities, which are performance-critical for robust device design and regulatory submissions. Stay tuned: more sophisticated tools and applications that can make use of the meta-modeling framework will expand rapidly in upcoming releases!
In this preview of Sim4Life’s meta-modeling framework, in this case to explore a design space, simulation results are used to train a surrogate model, which predicts outcomes for new parameter sets. The animation shows how uncertainty quantification is used to accelerate robust device development through identification of regions where more data is needed and how optimization algorithms guide the design towards regulatory-grade solutions.
Implant Safety
The IMAnalyticsSuite V1.8 introduces powerful new tools designed to support the latest trends in implant safety assessment. In this release, B1 field analysis is enhanced with flexible slicing and visualization capabilities, including maximum intensity projections (MIPs) and customizable B1+ and B1− field views across arbitrary planes. New functions allow users to compute homogeneity metrics like the coefficient of variation based on masked regions and assess average B1+ or B1− within defined slabs around the isocenter. Users can thus now restrict power deposition analysis to exposure scenarios that meet specific B1+ homogeneity thresholds, streamlining compliance with evolving safety guidelines and reducing overestimation.
New B1 field analysis tools in IMAnalyticsSuite V1.8 allow users to slice through B1+ and B1− maps in any orientation, generate maximum intensity projections, and define regions of interest for detailed analysis. Homogeneity metrics and compliance thresholds are computed on-the-fly, allowing users to restrict power deposition analysis to scenarios that meet specific B1+ uniformity requirements – streamlining regulatory safety assessments for B1 labeling of implants.
Sim4Life.lite: Empowering the Next Generation
The Sim4Life.lite student edition remains freely available online. Sim4Life.lite supports up to 20 million grid cells per project, far exceeding the computing power of any competitor’s student offering. The annual Sim4Life Student Competition recognizes outstanding student research in numerical simulation. Be part of this year’s contest and compete for the exciting awards!
Instant Access without Installation
Sim4Life V9.0 is now available for commercial users, academics, and students. From wireless engineering to medical device design, regulatory compliance, and basic and applied research: Sim4Life V9.0 delivers and adapts to every challenge.
New to Sim4Life? Start your Sim4Life journey here.
For further information, please email us at s4l-sales@zmt.swiss or call +41 44 245 9765.
Kind regards,
The Sim4Life Team
