Welcome back to Tufts in Translation, where we spotlight faculty advancing new therapeutic approaches, targets, platforms, and delivery systems. Sessions feature early-stage research across the drug discovery and design landscape, with an emphasis on translational potential and industry relevance. A key focus of Dr. Calancie's work is adapting the platform to model glucose dynamics during pregnancy, addressing the unique metabolic changes associated with maternal health and gestational diabetes, an area that remains underserved by existing digital health and decision-support tools.

Predicting Glucose Responses: Building a Virtual Platform for Precision Health 

Dr. Larissa Calancie is the Linda and Jeffrey Moslow Assistant Professor of Women’s Health and Menopause at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, and is developing a predictive glucose simulation platform that uses physiologically based modeling to forecast how food intake, beverages, and physical activity influence blood glucose levels.

The platform has the potential to be personalized using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and behavioral data, creating a virtual environment where individuals and clinicians can evaluate "what-if" scenarios related to diet, exercise, and treatment strategies. A key focus of Dr. Calancie's work is adapting the platform to model glucose dynamics during pregnancy, addressing the unique metabolic changes associated with maternal health and gestational diabetes, an area that remains underserved by existing digital health and decision-support tools.