A consortium of nine partners from five European countries, led by the Helmholtz Zentrum München, will work together with a transdisciplinary approach to develop a novel hybrid endoscopic instrument for the diagnosis of oesophageal cancer (OC). The new device will combine two groundbreaking technologies — multi-spectral optoacoustic (photoacoustic) tomography (MSOT) and optical coherence tomography (OCT) — to enable the rapid, three-dimensional imaging of the entire oesophageal wall, as well as the quantitation of disease biomarkers. Based on this information, OC can be precisely detected and staged, even at early stages, neither of which can be done reliably at present. The benefits for patients and healthcare systems: the number of needless biopsies is reduced and the chances of effective treatment are significantly increased. Currently the 5-year survival rate is as low as 10% due to late detection of the disease.
Ascenion is part of the consortium leading the work package of dissemination, exploitation and communication. The project will run over four years and is funded under Horizon 2020, the EU framework program for research and innovation.
For further information see Helmholtz Zentrum München's press release