This sort of work is (pardon the pun) in its infancy. While digital twins of some organs, like the heart, are already advanced, we’re still doing the fundamental research to understand the uterus, cervix, and overall functioning of the women’s reproductive system. 

It’s a big deal because these twins are only as good as the underlying data. Unlike in aerospace engineering, there’s no detailed atlas of the orientation of fibers that comprise the cervix. We don’t yet have standardized measurements of how the uterus stretches week by week across pregnancy. Shockingly, information about fundamental properties of pregnancy varies widely in the literature, if they’ve been documented at all.

That lack of information is a problem for researchers, physicians, industry, and patients. Without foundational knowledge, femtech startups are left taking guesses or burning time and capital answering basic questions. Founders regularly ask me questions about the size and shape of the uterus and cervix or how they’re packaged in the vaginal canal. These inventors are building important technologies like more effective contraception devices and treatments to prevent preterm birth. It’s vital for them to have access to high-quality information.

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To support safe, effective innovation in femtech and better clinical outcomes, we need sustained investment in the full research pipeline: from curiosity-driven science to technology transfer and clinical applications. That means support from philanthropy and industry as well as from the federal government. One reason my lab has been able to continue this work over the years is the ongoing support of the Iris Fund, a foundation focused on advancing research in preterm birth and supporting families that experience high-risk pregnancies. When other sources of funding have fallen short, the Iris Fund has stepped in to fill in the gaps. 

We’ve figured out how to model jet wings and SUVs — understanding how the uterus stretches through the course of pregnancy is within our grasp. But we can’t skip straight to product design. First, we need the science.

Kristin Myers is a professor of mechanical engineering, director of the Myers Soft Tissue Lab at Columbia University, and an expert in women's health engineering research.

Lead Photo Caption: Kristin Myers spoke on a panel about digital twins in medicine at the 2025 Aspen Ideas Health festival.

Lead Photo Credit: Aspen Institute

Lead Photo Caption: Richard Zemel, Trianthe Dakolias Professor of Engineering and Applied Science at Columbia Engineering; director of ARNI
Lead Photo Credit: David Dini/Columbia Engineering