📋 Tender Overview
In Vivo Immunofluorescence-Optical Coherence Tomography
Current Clinical Medicine Relies On Mri And Ct For Structural Imaging, And Immuno-Pet/Spect For Molecular Specificity. The Combination Of Structural Imaging And Molecular Specific Imaging Provides Detailed Information About Expression Of Proteins And Cell Surface Receptors In Vivo In Humans. Pet-Ct/Mri Has Become An Essential Component Of Personalized Medicine. However, The Resolution Of Mri/Ct Is Just Under A Millimeter, While The Resolution Of Pet Is Limited To About 2-10 Millimeters, Insufficient For Early Disease Detection. Moreover, Pet Is Associated With Radiation Burden Of Ligands Labeled With A Radiotracer And Can Image Only One Labeled Ligand At A Time.
What Is Missing Is The Ability To Image In Vivo With Much Higher Resolution, And To Image Multiple Molecular Targets And Molecular Interactions Simultaneously. I Propose To Develop The Optical Equivalent Of Pet- Ct/Mri With A 10 To 100 Fold Better Resolution. To Reach This Goal I Will Integrate Three-Dimensional Endoscopic Optical Coherence Tomography (Oct) For Structural Information With Depth Resolved Imaging Of Fluorescently Labeled Monoclonal Antibodies For Molecular Specificity.
To Image The Hollow Organs Accessible By Endoscopy, I Will Develop The Immuno-Oct Technology Integrated With Miniature Motorized Catheters And The Multi-Fiber Detection Technology For Depth Resolved Fluorescence Determination For Endoscopic Immuno-Oct In Catheters As Small As 1.5 Mm Diameter. I Will Focus On Esophageal Cancer And Lung Disease. The Proposed Research Has A Much Broader Impact, Creating A Platform To Study In Detail Therapy-Tissue Interactions Longitudinally In Vivo In Patients, Providing In Vivo Information Approaching Immunohistochemistry Analysis. This Approach Will Revolutionize The Diagnosis And Treatment Of Patients With A Resolution Approaching Immunohistology At High Speed Over Large Volumes Using Minimally Invasive Technologies.
Funded Under
European Research Council (Erc)
Total Cost
€ 2 500 000,00
Eu Contribution
€ 2 500 000,00
Coordinated By
Stichting Vu
Netherlands
Start Date
1 January 2025
End Date
31 December 2029
Objective
Current clinical medicine relies on MRI and CT for structural imaging, and immuno-PET/SPECT for molecular specificity. The combination of structural imaging and molecular specific imaging provides detailed information about expression of proteins and cell surface receptors in vivo in humans. PET-CT/MRI has become an essential component of personalized medicine. However, the resolution of MRI/CT is just under a millimeter, while the resolution of PET is limited to about 2-10 millimeters, insufficient for early disease detection. Moreover, PET is associated with radiation burden of ligands labeled with a radiotracer and can image only one labeled ligand at a time.
What is missing is the ability to image in vivo with much higher resolution, and to image multiple molecular targets and mol
