Next generation train in hybrid imaging Diagnostic imaging is an important tool in modern medicine, but currently the different medical imaging modalities are often not being used to their full potential. The HYBRID project is an innovative training network (ITN), funded by the European Commission, that aims to train the next generation of imaging scientists and help them develop novel diagnostic procedures, as Professor Thomas Beyer and Dr Ivo Rausch explain. Hybrid imaging
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Medical Imaging
The emergence of hybrid medical imaging systems (see box) promises to enable more precise diagnosis and treatment of disease. In the HYBRID project, the aim is to provide training to the next generation of imaging scientists and help bridge the gap between different areas of medical imaging. “In the past, there has typically been a divide between nuclear medicine imaging and radiology,” says Dr Ivo Rausch, a post-doc researcher in the Quantitative Imaging and Medical Physics team at the Centre for Medical Physics and Biomedical Engineering (CMPBMT) at the Medical University of Vienna. “You may be a specialist in nuclear medicine imaging, or MRI, or general radiology, but there is a lack of people who understand all the different imaging modalities and are able to bring this together.”
The intention of HYBRID is not just that ESRs develop their research skills, but also that they gain experience in industrial settings, which will help prepare them for their future careers. “At the end of the HYBRID funding period, there will be 15 highly-skilled and well-trained researchers, who should be able to bridge the gap between academic research, industry and product development in the field of hybrid imaging for better patient care,” outlines Ivo Rausch.
Medical imaging is a means to provide information on patients non-invasively, and help clinicians diagnose disease. A variety of different medical imaging modalities are available to assess patients, a few of which are briefly described below:
By training young scientists in different imaging areas, they can then combine the best aspects and come up with novel diagnostic procedures, which will give clinicians a fuller picture of a patient’s condition. HYBRID itself brings together academic and industrial partners across Europe, providing a platform for early stage researchers (ESRs) to work on different projects in the field of medical imaging. There are 15 ESRs working on projects within HYBRID, with the shared goal of developing tools that enable doctors to use medical imaging systems more effectively. By developing specific, image-based biomarkers, researchers hope to improve therapeutic decisionmaking. “We always strive to develop reproducible biomarkers. Several projects within HYBRID are geared towards improving the accuracy or reproducibility of these quantitative biomarkers as derived from molecular imaging,” says Thomas Beyer, Professor of Physics of Medical Imaging at the Medical University Vienna. The main focus in HYBRID is oncology, which is a primary area of application for hybrid imaging and where most of the consortium members engage in clinically. Here, we highlight three representative projects to illustrate the aims of HYBRID (see next page). In one project, Alejanda Valladares investigates ways of mimicking tumour heterogeneity by building phantom models that can be used to validate new imaging protocols and evaluation approaches at multiple imaging centres. In a second project, Dr David Wallis and Professor Irène Buvat in Paris developed an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven approach to identify cancer lesions on PET images. This supports faster and more accurate diagnostic work-up of patients. A similar approach was taken further and translated into the clinic in a third project by Nicolò Capobianco, who used an AI-model to predict outcome in lymphoma patients. Currently this approach is being extended to other diseases and imaging protocols.
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While some ESRs may choose to work in academia, others may decide to move into industry, and HYBRID has been designed to help them gain commercial experience, alongside technical skills. “For example, each ESR has a business coach that advises them on career paths in industry,” Thomas Beyer says. “The idea is that ESRs are exposed to different career options. This training programme should help them find their dream job.” The tools developed by the ESRs will be shared within the consortium, while other elements of their projects’ research could have a wider impact. For example, the bespoke imaging phantoms may become a standard for the validation of novel onsite imaging protocols and for gathering imaging studies across multiple sites. A further important outcome from HYBRID is a strong relationship between the participating institutes and industrial partners. This will provide solid foundations for further collaboration in future, believes Ivo Rausch. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve established a positive relationship between the different institutions and industrial partners, built on trust. There’s a real desire to work together in future.” The initial steps towards this are underway; with HYBRID nearing the end of its funding term, Thomas Beyer and his colleagues are in the process of establishing a new consortium. “We will build on this existing network, that has brought us sustainable and long-lasting collaborations.”
CT (Computed Tomography) – A CT scan is a type of radiology imaging, where patients are exposed to radiation from outside the body. A series of X-ray scans from different angles are combined in a CT scan to create cross-sectional images of the anatomy with high spatial resolution. SPECT (Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography) – A SPECT scan is a type of nuclear imaging, where the radiation source is inside the body. A radioisotope is delivered into the body, then a gamma camera takes images from different angles, yielding a 3-D picture of the distribution of the radioactively labeled biomolecule inside the body. PET (Positron Emission Tomography) – A radioactively labeled biomolecule (tracer) is also used with PET scans; in contrast to SPECT, PET employs positron emitting radioisotopes. These radiotracers are introduced into metabolic pathways. This technique can be used to measure changes in metabolic processes, and to identify both normal and abnormal activity. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) – With MRI, strong magnetic fields and radio waves are used to generate detailed images of a patient’s anatomy and physiological processes within the body. Hybrid imaging – Hybrid imaging denotes the physical combination of two complementary (anatomical and molecular) imaging modalities, such as PET and CT, or SPECT and CT. By combining two in one, diagnostic value can be increased and workflow can be improved.
The first meeting of the HYBRID consortium took place in March 2018 in Vienna, Austria.
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