Objective The ambition of the MERLIN project is to improve in-depth diagnosis and therapeutic follow-up of diseases that impact the eye’s retina. To do so, the MERLIN partners will deliver a novel medical imaging device able to detect pathological alterations in the retina with highly enhanced sensitivity and specificity.The medical applications of this device encompass a wide range of retinal pathologies, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as chronic vascular conditions, including diabetes. AMD and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are the leading cause of blindness worldwide in people over 55 years of age. Such diseases slowly develop at the microscopic scale in the retina. Using current imaging techniques, it is difficult to detect them at early stage, and it often takes months to assess the effects of treatments. These limitations hinders both the clinical management of patients and the investigation of new therapies.In order to overcome these issues, the device developed in MERLIN will for the first time enable doctors to examine the retina with multiple imaging modalities at both the macroscopic and microscopic scales. Modalities will include ultrafast scanning laser ophthalmoscopy (SLO), optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A), while ultrahigh resolution will be provided by adaptive optics technology. This unique combination will reveal previously invisible cellular and microvascular retinal detail in 3 dimensions. The project partners will also develop advanced image processing software for the visualization and quantitative analysis of microscopic structures, and conduct experimentations to optimize and validate performance in AMD and DR patients.As the feasibility of this diagnostic approach has previously been demonstrated in another European R&D project (FP7 FAMOS, 2012-2017), MERLIN will translate the technology from a preexisting laboratory prototype to a nearly commercial device usable in clinical trials. Fields of science natural scienceschemical sciencesanalytical chemistryquantitative analysismedical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetesmedical and health sciencesbasic medicinepathologymedical and health sciencesclinical medicineophthalmologyretinopathysocial scienceseconomics and businesseconomicssustainable economy Programme(s) H2020-EU.2.1.1. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Main Programme Topic(s) ICT-30-2017 - Photonics KET 2017 Call for proposal H2020-ICT-2016-2017 See other projects for this call Sub call H2020-ICT-2017-1 Funding Scheme IA - Innovation action Coordinator IMAGINE EYES SA Net EU contribution € 1 891 575,00 Address Rue charles de gaulle 18 91400 Orsay France See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Essonne Activity type Private for-profit entities (excluding 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 Other funding € 810 675,00 Participants (6) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAET WIEN Austria Net EU contribution € 588 025,00 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 Other funding € 0,00 FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES Spain Net EU contribution € 522 500,00 Address Avinguda carl friedrich gauss 3 08860 Castelldefels See on map Region Este Cataluña Barcelona Activity type Research Organisations 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 Other funding € 0,00 ERASMUS UNIVERSITAIR MEDISCH CENTRUM ROTTERDAM Netherlands Net EU contribution € 1 072 825,00 Address Dr molewaterplein 40 3015 GD Rotterdam See on map Region West-Nederland Zuid-Holland Groot-Rijnmond 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 Other funding € 0,00 REGION HOVEDSTADEN Denmark Net EU contribution € 361 735,00 Address Kongens vaenge 2 3400 Hillerod See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Nordsjælland Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher 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 Other funding € 0,00 INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE France Net EU contribution € 431 000,00 Address Rue de tolbiac 101 75654 Paris See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Research Organisations 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 Other funding € 0,00 Third-party Legal entity other than a subcontractor which is affiliated or legally linked to a participant. The entity carries out work under the conditions laid down in the Grant Agreement, supplies goods or provides services for the action, but did not sign the Grant Agreement. A third party abides by the rules applicable to its related participant under the Grant Agreement with regard to eligibility of costs and control of expenditure. CENTRE HOSPITALIER NATIONAL D'OPHTALMOLOGIE DES QUINZE-VINGTS France Net EU contribution € 0,00 Address Rue de charenton 28 75571 Paris cedex 12 See on map Region Ile-de-France Ile-de-France Paris Activity type Public bodies (excluding Research Organisations and Secondary or Higher Education Establishments) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Other funding € 0,00
