Application of Silicon Photomultipliers to Imaging Detectors

Objective

Medical imaging is a multidisciplinary research field that has a direct application to the improvement of human health. Instrumentation development in this area is an essential step in the search for high performance imaging devices that can help to provide an early and accurate diagnosis of the diseases.
The novel photodetectors known as silicon photomultipliers or multicell Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes are an alternative to the traditional photomultiplier tubes that can overcome some of the limitations of the existing instrumentation. In the last years they have reached a performance level that can make their application to medical imaging highly advantageous. The use of these photodetectors makes possible the construction of high resolution and efficiency detector blocks that can lead to a significant improvement in the performance of detectors for Positron Emission Tomography (PET).
The proposed project aims to contribute to the development of this technology and to assess its benefits in medical imaging through their employ in the construction of detector heads for two different applications: a small animal PET scanner with expected submillimeter spatial resolution and a clinical high resolution intra-operative PET probe.
The project will greatly help the applicant in her reintegration process in the host institution, to continue her training as a scientist and further improve her management and leadership abilities, and also to get established and consolidate her research career. Furthermore, it will serve to reinforce the collaboration with the host institution of her previous Marie Curie Intra-European fellowship, and will also contribute to introduce this novel and promising technology in the host institution.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.

• engineering and technology electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering electronic engineering sensors optical sensors
• natural sciences chemical sciences inorganic chemistry metalloids
• engineering and technology medical engineering diagnostic imaging

Keywords

Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)

• instrumentation development
• medical imaging
• multicell Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes
• positron emission tomography
• silicon photomultipliers

Programme(s)

Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.

• FP7-PEOPLE - Specific programme "People" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013)

Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

• PEOPLE-2007-2-2.ERG - Marie Curie Action: "European Reintegration Grants"

Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

FP7-PEOPLE-ERG-2008
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MC-ERG - European Re-integration Grants (ERG)

Coordinator