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Content archived on 2023-03-20

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An innovative system for the simultaneous acquisition of images deriving from SPECT and MRI: the European-funded project INSERT started its activities

The INSERT research project (acronym of its full title “Development of an integrated SPECT/MRI system for enhanced stratification of brain tumour patients prior to patient-specific radio-chemo therapy and early assessment of treatment efficacy”) officially started on March 1st, 2013, thanks to the financial contribution received by the European Commission under FP7.

The INSERT research project (acronym of its full title “Development of an integrated SPECT/MRI system for enhanced stratification of brain tumour patients prior to patient-specific radio-chemo therapy and early assessment of treatment efficacy”) officially started on March 1st, 2013, thanks to the financial contribution received by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Commission (for a total estimated amount of 4.600.000 €) for a duration of 4 years. The consortium is made up of 10 organisations, including both research organisations and private companies from five European countries). The project is coordinated by Prof. Carlo Fiorini from the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioingeneering of the Polytechnic of Milan. On the 5 and 6 March 2013, the first project meeting has been held in Milan (Italy), in order to define the operative plans of initial activities and to open a debate on the requirements of the system to be developed. The objective of the INSERT project is in fact to develop an innovative system combining SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), which will enable the simultaneous acquisition of images resulting from the two systems. The aim of the project lays in the high mortality rate of patients with recurrent glioma (a tumour of the central nervous system). Unfortunately, notwithstanding the innovations brought by the scientific research, the management of these patients, both adults and in paediatric age, is still a challenge, since the life expectancy of these patients is very low and the surgery does not represent a definitive solution in all cases, given to the nature of these tumours. Thanks to the possibility of obtaining multiple parameters, the INSERT system will enable to better define the tumour biology and to give relevant information for a personalized treatment, with a considerable impact on the efficacy of the treatment itself. The system will be validated at the pre-clinical level thanks to the creation of animal models, and to the clinical level, thanks to a pilot study which will involve patients with glioma. For further information, please contact Serena Cogoni (serena.cogoni@cf-c.it) responsible for the project dissemination activities.

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Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom