Descrizione del progetto
Imaging ottico ad alta risoluzione per il monitoraggio terapeutico dei tessuti profondi
L’imaging optoacustico (fotoacustico) consente l’immaginografia ottica tridimensionale ad alta risoluzione all’interno dei tessuti in profondità (attraverso diversi millimetri fino a centimetri). La mesoscopia optoacustica a scansione a banda ultra larga (RSOM, Raster-Scan Optoacoustic Mesoscopy), recentemente sviluppata, offre immagini ottiche trasversali avanzate della pelle; è stata introdotta con successo nella diagnostica clinica nel campo della dermatologia. Il progetto WINTHER, finanziato dall’UE, svilupperà la RSOM veloce (F-RSOM) di prossima generazione, di due ordini di grandezza più veloce della RSOM esistente, consentendo la valutazione delle funzioni endoteliali. La nuova RSOM sarà aiutata da un moderno framework di calcolo, basato su algoritmi deterministici e di intelligenza artificiale. Si spera che l’introduzione della F-RSOM migliori l’accuratezza clinica della RSOM per far avanzare la sua applicazione nel monitoraggio terapeutico di malattie cardiometaboliche e condizioni infiammatorie della pelle.
Obiettivo
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).
Campo scientifico
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesdata science
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinedermatology
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicineendocrinologydiabetes
- medical and health sciencesclinical medicinecardiologycardiovascular diseases
- medical and health scienceshealth sciencespersonalized medicine
Programma(i)
Meccanismo di finanziamento
IA - Innovation actionCoordinatore
80333 Muenchen
Germania