Short Context
The 'Advance Imaging' consortium promotes multidisciplinary and innovation-focused collaboration among (bio)medical scientists, engineers, and medical doctors from three prominent VUB/UZBrussel research groups. It continues the successful collaboration between the ETRO group, led by Prof. Maarten Kuijk and Prof. Hans Ingelberts, and the MITH group (formerly known as ICMI) led by Prof. Sophie Hernot. The consortium is strengthened through the alliance with the Surgery department of UZBrussel, represented by Dr. Ellen van Eetvelde and Dr. Jasper Stijns.
Currently, the combined group consists of approx. 20 researchers building. In the last 7 years, 2 patent applications have been approved and a further 2 have been submitted.
Aims
We aim to leverage collective expertise to advance imaging technologies and their practical applications in life sciences, healthcare, medical research, and beyond.
We aim to advance the technological readiness and implement FLT technology and fluorescent nanobodies in concrete applications. (In our previous program "NLITE," we laid the technological groundwork).
We aim to strengthen and leverage new imaging technologies where we see potential.
We aim to enter the clinical and surgical translational research with the lead fluorescence nanobody that has been developed, as well as develop the early proof-of-concepts, for the FLT technology.
Expertise
The Advance Imaging consortium has a dedicated team of specialists and technicians with access to state of the art optical and silicon sensor development facilities as well as centralized multiple small animal imaging modalities including MicroSPECT/PET/CT, MRI, Optical imaging, MicroCT and Ultrasound together with a unit for probe development and a vivarium for the housing of animals in one laboratory.
The expertise of the consortium is focused on the following research lines:
- Design and development of novel silicon sensors for FLT imaging.
- Design and development of novel FLT imaging devices.
- Introduction of new breakthrough applications using FLT imaging.
- Design and preclinical validation of fluorescent contrast agents towards clinical translation, with a particular focus on fluorescence-guided surgery.
Interests
Advance Imaging is focused on preclinical and clinical fluorescence imaging and invites researchers, biotech and pharmaceutical companies to collaborate on the following topics:
- Development of the FLT imaging technology for (pre)clinical applications with industrial and academic partners.
- Design and development of a FLT device based upon the FLT imaging principles and the related methods, algorithms and software and data processing.
- New tracks for nanobody-based fluorescent tracers.
- Interdisciplinary research efforts which encompass the development and validation of innovative fluorescence-based contrast agents and/or tracers and their application in preclinical and translational research.
Some can be executed based on the research lines of the consortium and others can be conducted on the basis of contract research.
