Project description DEENESFRITPL Intelligent endoscopic imaging platform could transform medical diagnosis Current optical imaging techniques used in medicine face limitations in penetration depth and speed, leading to reliance on non-optical methods such as X-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. The ERC-funded ENCOMOLE-2i project aims to revolutionise medical imaging by developing an endoscopic multimodal molecular imaging platform. The proposed platform will combine three novel imaging modalities: high-speed optical coherence tomography, time-encoded stimulated Raman sensing and two-photon microscopy. These technologies will enable ‘intelligent imaging’, a term referring to more efficient data acquisition. Focusing on gastrointestinal imaging, ENCOMOLE-2i’s proposed universal endoscopy platform could pave the way for advanced optical in vivo imaging in clinical research and routine, ultimately improving disease diagnosis. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Optical imaging has exceptional potential for medical diagnosis, because it can provide high spatial resolution and molecular contrast. However, for in vivo imaging in humans, the poor penetration of only a few millimetres is a major obstacle. Optical endoscopes solve this problem, but currently most of them only perform non-advanced, classical white light imaging. Also, the speed of current devices is not sufficient to comprehensively scan entire organs at microscopic resolution. Hence, medical imaging is still dominated by non-optical techniques like X-ray, ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging.The objective of ENCOMOLE-2i is to push the performance of advanced optical in vivo imaging techniques to cross the application threshold for clinical research and practice. An endoscopic multi-modal molecular imaging platform will be developed with unprecedented capabilities for the diagnosis of disease.The hardware technology development includes three novel imaging modalities. Optical coherence tomography with line rates of several Megahertz will be used for comprehensive structural imaging over large areas. Time encoded stimulated Raman sensing, supported by a new type of two photon microscopy, will be used for guided and referenced molecular imaging. Combining these techniques into one system and interfacing it with a newly developed endoscope will generate great synergy. Moreover, the unique synchronization capabilities of these modalities enable a radically new strategy for more efficient data acquisition: The concept of adaptive “Intelligent Imaging”.The goal is to develop a universal endoscopy platform which can then be specifically tailored to the individual application. In the project the focus is on gastrointestinal imaging. The synergy between technological and algorithmic advances in ENCOMOLE-2i will break ground for more optical in vivo imaging in clinical research and routine, which can finally lead to improved diagnosis of many types of disease. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopyfluorescence lifetime imagingnatural sciencesphysical sciencesastronomyobservational astronomyinfrared astronomynatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsfibre opticsnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticslaser physicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencestheoretical physicsparticle physicsphotons Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-CoG-2014 - ERC Consolidator Grant Call for proposal ERC-2014-CoG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAET zu LUEBECK Net EU contribution € 1 998 530,00 Address RATZEBURGER ALLEE 160 23562 Lubeck Germany See on map Region Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt 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 € 1 998 530,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAET zu LUEBECK Germany Net EU contribution € 1 998 530,00 Address RATZEBURGER ALLEE 160 23562 Lubeck See on map Region Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Lübeck, Kreisfreie Stadt 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 € 1 998 530,00