How do you turn groundbreaking research into concrete innovation that makes a difference for cancer patients and the healthcare system? That’s the question Professor Henning Friis Poulsen from DTU aims to answer in the XHIST project, which is based on results from his ERC-funded research in advanced X-ray imaging and technology.
The goal is to develop a new method for so-called virtual 3D histology, which makes it possible to examine tissue samples in three dimensions without cutting them. Today, only a small part of the tissue is analyzed in traditional examinations, which can mean that important information is missed.
As part of the project, a new prototype scanner and software are being developed, which can be integrated into existing workflows in hospitals. The technology will, among other things, be tested to help doctors see whether the entire tumor has been removed and whether cancer cells have spread to the smallest blood vessels in the liver.
In the long run, the ambition is for the Proof-of-Concept grant to pave the way for the DTU professor to start a company that bridges his research findings and new, innovative diagnostic tools for the healthcare sector. As part of the project, a strategy for patenting and commercialization is therefore being developed with the aim of bringing the new X-ray technology to market.