Imaging infections: integrated, multiscale visualization of infections and host response

Project Information

IMAGE-IN

Grant agreement ID: 861122

DOI

10.3030/861122

Project closed

EC signature date 5 July 2019

Start date 1 January 2020

End date 30 June 2024

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 1 233 805,68

EU contribution

€ 1 233 805,68

Coordinated by

LEIBNIZ-INSTITUT FUER PHOTONISCHE TECHNOLOGIEN E.V.
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - IMAGE-IN (Imaging infections: integrated, multiscale visualization of infections and host response)

Reporting period: 2022-01-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide. As seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, the course of an infection varies significantly between individuals. To treat patients effectively, powerful diagnostic methods and a profound understanding of disease pathogenesis are crucial. Many molecular imaging approaches are being developed at the research level, offering great potential for precision medicine in infectious diseases. High-resolution imaging is becoming a key driver in transforming healthcare. The potential of "big data" to improve health outcomes is enormous, but success requires both medical insights and the ability to handle large datasets. The IMAGE-IN training program bridges the gap between clinical perspectives on infection, imaging technology, statistical algorithms, and software solutions, fostering vibrant interdisciplinary exchange. The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Network IMAGE-IN has equipped scientists to advance their careers in spectroscopy and imaging, particularly for medical needs like infections. IMAGE-IN is a European Industrial Doctorate program that educates researchers in interdisciplinary topics, preparing them to advance imaging technology for medical use. Participants gain insights into medical challenges, spectroscopic techniques, and data analysis skills. Training includes hands-on private sector experience and feedback from medical end-users, alongside transferable skills in business and entrepreneurship, encouraging technology transfer from research to industry and strengthening healthcare systems. The five Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) developed skills to explore new biomedical imaging applications, proposing innovative methods and algorithms for diagnostics and treatment strategies.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

Overall, we are proud to state that the project "IMAGE-IN - Imaging infections: integrated, multiscale visualization of infections and host response" has been a tremendous success. It has delivered nearly all expected outputs and met most of the anticipated goals, aligning with the planned timelines and deadlines. We have achieved significant scientific and technological advancements, particularly in the field of spectroscopy and imaging for addressing medical needs related to infections. The training program has promoted scientific excellence, multidisciplinarity, and researcher autonomy, equipping a new generation of scientists capable of making a major impact on Europe’s healthcare sector. This success is reflected in the publication of 18 articles in prestigious journals.The partnership has been highly committed and collaborative. We developed robust plans for communication, dissemination, data management, and exploitation of the project results, which were effectively implemented throughout the project’s duration.
Key outcomes of the project include:
-Five young researchers have continuously and successfully contributed to the research project.
-10 peer-reviewed publications have been released, featuring significant contributions from the Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) and joint supervision by the IMAGE-IN network. These publications have made a notable impact on the scientific community.
-33 conference contributions, including oral and poster presentations, were made, sharing the results of the IMAGE-IN network with the international scientific community.
-4 out of 5 researchers have already transitioned into postdoctoral positions in prestigious European institutions (both research and healthcare), continuing the trajectory set out in their career development plans.
-The ESRs have acquired expertise in new imaging techniques and analytical tools.
-10 new software packages have been developed by the ESRs and are now available for the broader scientific community.
-BMD Software and Leibniz-IPHT have strengthened their collaborations and scientific exchange.
The successful completion of secondments between industry and academia by the ESRs further underscores the value of the IMAGE-IN training program. Built on three pillars—original research, training courses, and mentoring—the program has ensured a broad and comprehensive education while providing individual support and tailored development for each ESR, according to their specific skills and career needs.
We are confident that the outcomes of this project will continue to contribute to the advancement of imaging technologies for medical applications and further foster collaboration across academia and industry in Europe.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

IMAGE-IN aimed to provide new career perspectives to young researchers by exposing them to an interdisciplinary research field with strong involvement from the non-academic sector and guidance from medical needs. The five ESRs from the IMAGE-IN research and training network were trained in an emerging field of research that expanded in response to medical demands by advancing spectroscopic techniques and developing data analysis algorithms and methods. Imaging techniques enabled rapid visualization and monitoring of molecular processes in a non-invasive manner, offering unparalleled opportunities for the field of infectious diseases (diagnosis and monitoring of treatment responses). These new methods overcame significant limitations of existing tools and generated a broad impact on both basic research and patient care. Beyond diagnosis and disease monitoring, these technologies provided a uniform cross-species platform for animal studies, offering unique insights into understanding disease pathogenesis and accelerating the bench-to-bedside translation of new therapeutics. The translation of the newly developed tools for clinical applications and personalized medicine for infectious diseases was highly likely, as molecular imaging was readily available for human use. The IMAGE-IN training network filled the gap between imaging technology and the challenges of analyzing and merging large spectral datasets to provide meaningful insights from both life science and medical perspectives. As a result, graduates from this integrated, trans-disciplinary educational program were able to address the current shortage of trained scientific personnel capable of bridging the multiple facets of infection with the interpretation and management of large imaging data. The IMAGE-IN team was highly committed to the rapid and effective dissemination of project results and knowledge, both internally and externally. All partners leveraged their extensive experience in dissemination and outreach activities from previous national and international projects to maximize the impact of IMAGE-IN’s research and training outcomes. The research and training network IMAGE-IN generated results of high interest to the scientific community, and its impact on medical diagnosis was also of significant relevance to society and industry.

Imaging across scales and visualization in 3D: Overview of IMAGE-IN technologies