Project description
High-resolution optical imaging for deep-tissue therapeutic monitoring
Optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging enables three-dimensional, high-resolution optical imaging deep inside tissues (through several millimetres to centimetres). Ultra-broadband raster-scan optoacoustic mesoscopy (RSOM), recently developed, offers advanced cross-sectional optical imaging of the skin; it has been successfully introduced into clinical diagnostics in the dermatology field. The EU-funded WINTHER project will develop next-generation fast RSOM (F-RSOM) that is two orders of magnitude faster than the existing RSOM, enabling assessment of endothelial functions. The new RSOM will be aided by a modern computation framework, based on deterministic and artificial intelligence algorithms. It is hoped that the introduction of F-RSOM will improve the clinical accuracy of RSOM to advance its application in therapeutic monitoring of cardiometabolic diseases and inflammatory skin conditions.
Objective
Optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging dramatically improves upon conventional bio-optic barriers and enables three-dimensional, high-resolution optical imaging deep inside tissues (several mm to cm). Clinical optoacoustic macroscopy has been supported by two ERC Advanced Awards (2008, 2016; Prof. Ntziachristos). In parallel, under the ICT program INNODERM, we developed mesoscopic optoacoustic imaging for dermatology diagnostics. Termed raster-scan optoacoustic mesoscopy (RSOM), the method can image previously invisible ❶ pathophysiological/oxygenation and ❷ morphological features of the skin at depths of 1-5mm. RSOM has already shown clinical diagnostic value in dermatology and, fuelled by INNODERM, has been commercialised and globally placed by iThera Medical.
WINTHER builds on this success. While INNODERM focused on diagnostic dermatology, it has become apparent that RSOM can also assess progression and therapy not only in skin but also in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, to achieve this, RSOM should be able to assess endothelial function, ability that it is not yet available. WINTHER will build next-generation fast RSOM (F-RSOM), operating up to two orders of magnitude faster than state-of-the-art RSOM, enabling it to assess not only ❶,❷ above but also ❸ endothelial function. Using the skin as a window for disease assessment and aided by a modern computation framework, based on deterministic and artificial intelligence algorithms, F-RSOM aims to improve the clinical accuracy of RSOM and shift the paradigm in therapeutic monitoring of cardio-metabolic diseases and inflammatory skin conditions, strengthening Europe's leadership in photonics and in personalized medicine.
The project is driven iThera Medical with a strong history of commercializing optoacoustics for clinical applications, by leading physicians (TUM, HUNIMED), and by RSOM, RSOM components and data analysis experts (TUM, iThera, Rayfos, Sonaxis).
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligence
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinedermatology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetes
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseases
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespersonalized medicine
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
IA - Innovation actionCoordinator
80333 Muenchen
Germany