Project description DEENESFRITPL Deuterium labelling to enhance magnetic resonance imaging specificity and sensitivity in cancer diagnostics Positron emission tomography (PET) is the only established technology for whole-body molecular imaging which is widely used in cancer diagnostics and treatment assessment. However, the PET procedure is expensive, involves ionising radiation, and has limited specificity for cancer-associated glucose uptake. The ERC-funded GLUCO-SCAN project aims to develop and evaluate a whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) concept such as deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) to overcome the limitations associated with the current PET. The approach will combine innovative MRI hardware, dynamic spectroscopic data sampling, and deep learning algorithms to create a new generation of whole-body scanners with the imaging capability of capturing morphologic and molecular information simultaneously. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective The targeted scientific breakthrough of GLUCO-SCAN is the development and clinical evaluation of a disruptive whole-body molecular imaging concept for cancer assessment. The only currently established whole-body molecular imaging device is positron emission tomography (PET). Glucose (Glc)-sensitive PET is widely used in cancer diagnosis and treatment assessment, but has several major limitations: PET involves harmful ionizing radiation, is expensive, not widely available, and cannot differentiate between cancer-specific and normal cellular glucose uptake. These limitations prohibit an even more widespread use of PET, e.g. for screening. We propose a new Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) concept, whole-body deuterium metabolic imaging (DMI) that will overcome these limitations.Deuteration is a simple chemical procedure with which it is possible to artificially label a broad range of molecules with an equally broad range of potential applications, e.g. targeting Glc metabolism in cancer. After ingestion, this labeled Glc is metabolized in cells and the label is transferred to all metabolic products, which can be tracked by DMI.Building on our recent preliminary results in Nature Biomed, we propose a combination of novel MRI hardware, dynamic spectroscopic data sampling, deep learning algorithms, and a clinical validation to answer the following three research questions in a 5-year project:(i) Is DMI a viable alternative for whole-body cancer assessment?(ii) How is DMI positioned compared to Glc-sensitive PET?(iii) Can DMI be performed on widely available MRI systems and simultaneous with standard MRI?GLUCO-SCAN will fill a gap in current medical imaging by offering an alternative for whole-body PET examinations and potentially even for screening of high risk populations. Ultimately, it will pave the way for a new generation of MR scanners with all-in-one whole-body imaging capability that would capture morphologic and molecular information simultaneously. Fields of science medical and health sciencesclinical medicineoncologynatural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligencemachine learningdeep learningengineering and technologymedical engineeringdiagnostic imagingmagnetic resonance imaging Keywords Magnetic resonance imaging magnetic resonance spectroscopy ultra-high field glucose metabolism oxidative glycolytic metabolism cancer diagnosis oncology Programme(s) HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2022-COG - ERC CONSOLIDATOR GRANTS Call for proposal ERC-2022-COG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants Host institution MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN Net EU contribution € 2 495 924,00 Address SPITALGASSE 23 1090 Wien Austria See on map Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 495 924,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN Austria Net EU contribution € 2 495 924,00 Address SPITALGASSE 23 1090 Wien See on map Region Ostösterreich Wien Wien Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 2 495 924,00
