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Call key data

AI in support of Quantum-Enhanced Metabolic Magnetic Resonance Imaging Systems

Funding Program

Digital Europe

Call number

DIGITAL-2024-AI-06-IMAGING

deadlines

Opening
29.02.2024

Deadline
29.05.2024 17:00

Funding rate

50% (SME/KMU 75%)

Call budget

€ 5,000,000.00

Estimated EU contribution per project

max. € 5,000,000.00

Link to the call

ec.europa.eu

Link to the submission

ec.europa.eu

Call content

short description

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a powerful tool for detecting, diagnosing and monitoring a wide range of medical conditions. An emerging approach based on quantum-enhanced metabolic MRI enables detection of the tissue metabolism, down to the cell level, leading to a much higher precision of detection and analysis of the human body. In combination with artificial intelligence (AI) and/or machine learning techniques to analyse the vast amount of data generated and for image analysis, it will lead to faster, more accurate and personalized diagnosis, treatment and follow-up notably of cancer and/or neurological disorders. The overall aim of this action is to prepare for the industrialisation and deployment of such emerging systems, with a focus on cancer imaging and/or neurological imaging.

Call objectives

Metabolic MRI has the potential to provide information about changes in tissue metabolism which can precede macroscopic tissue changes seen with standard MRI. For example, this emerging technology can provide early detection of changes in tissue metabolism and fast feedback on treatment effectiveness, a crucial aspect of finding effective cancer therapy. The development of AI techniques for the analysis of quantum-enhanced metabolic MRI images could substantially enhance the capabilities of this new technology, transforming the process into a more automated, personalised and efficient one. 

Therefore, the scope of this call is to develop and experimentally validate in an hospital environment a more precise and faster tool for the study, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of cancer and/or neurological disorders (such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis) by enhancing existing MRI systems with quantum enhanced metabolic MRI and AI techniques. 

The project will include the deployment of innovative automated polariser systems for quantum enhanced metabolic MRI in at least two research hospitals in two different Member States, working in close collaboration. The systems should allow for fast turnover and generation of metabolic agents within a few minutes, without the need for operating such systems at cryogenic temperatures. The polarisation level should be sufficiently high such that a metabolic MRI scan can be performed in a single-shot experiment, shortly after injecting the metabolic agent into a living organism. 

The project will also underpin the development of one or several AI models for the analysis of metabolic MRI data. To this end the images generated in the course of the project will be collected and annotated. These images, duly anonymised, will, together with images from other European initiatives and other clinical datasets, will be used to train one or several AI models useful for the development of new diagnostic and treatment selection protocols.

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Expected effects and impacts

In phase 1: 

  • Validation of the capabilities of metabolic MRI in a pre-clinical context as a diagnostic tool for cancer and neurological diseases and identifying appropriate treatments. This includes benchmarking of the success rate in finding effective cancer therapy within a relevant time frame, treatment responsiveness, recovery time and accuracy of treatment efficacy prediction.
  • The development of AI/machine learning techniques for cancer imaging and/or neurological imaging, e.g. by analysis of datasets accessible via the cloud, via the creation of an experimental AI/machine learning model.
  • Contribution to European and national initiatives on cancer imaging, and the future European Health Data Space. 

In phase 2: 

  • Benchmark metabolic MRI against standard MRI and other standard diagnostic tools by performing clinical trials in patients.
  • Operational impact of introducing metabolic MRI in hospitals, including financial implications and number of patients treated.
  • Assessment of metabolic MRI combined with AI techniques as a means to detect early signs or support the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and/or multiple sclerosis.
  • Standard procedures and best practices for the use of quantum-enhanced metabolic MRI in combination with AI techniques for cancer imaging and/or neurological imaging as a contribution to preparations for the wide use of this technology in European hospitals. Recommendations should be application/diagnosis-specific and mention, among other parameters, the preferred metabolic agent and the number and duration of metabolic MRI scan intervals.
  • Extended AI models as a tool for diagnosis, treatment selection and decision making, and the evaluation of medical outcomes, including assessment of correlations between metabolic MRI imaging data and treatment success, in line and coordination with the European Cancer Imaging Initiative.
  • Use project results to contribute to European and national initiatives on cancer imaging, and in line with the future European Health Data Space.

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Expected results

The project should be designed in in two phases. The start of the second phase should be conditional of the successful completion of the first phase: 

Project Phase 1:

  • Deployment and validation in a pre-clinical environment of two first-generation polariser systems for the refinement of hyperpolarisation techniques, metabolic agents, MRI sequences, and signal detection to optimise the visualisation of metabolism in a range of tissues with different pathologies.
  • Creation of an initial experimental AI model to analyse the MRI images in combination with inputs from other sources and forms of medical analysis, including, where relevant, datasets accessible via the cloud, with a view to developing future diagnostic and treatment selection protocols. 

Project Phase 2: 

  • The second phase consists of the deployment and validation in a clinical environment of two second-generation polariser systems and associated AI techniques (including the training of new models if necessary) to investigate tumour growth and disease progression, diagnosis, treatment selection and decision-making, and the evaluation of medical outcomes, as well as evaluate and optimise treatment of cancer and/or neurological diseases.

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Eligibility Criteria

Regions / countries for funding

EU Member States
Moldova (Moldova), Albania (Shqipëria), Bosnia and Herzegovina (Bosna i Hercegovina / Босна и Херцеговина), Iceland (Ísland), Kosovo (Kosova/Kosovë / Косово), Liechtenstein, Montenegro (Црна Гора), North Macedonia (Северна Македонија), Norway (Norge), Serbia (Srbija/Сpбија), Türkiye, Ukraine (Україна)

eligible entities

Education and training institution, Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) / Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Other, Private institution, incl. private company (private for profit), Public Body (national, regional and local; incl. EGTCs), Research Institution incl. University, Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME)

Mandatory partnership

Yes

Project Partnership

Proposals must be submitted by minimum 4 independent applicants (beneficiaries; not affiliated entities) from 3 different eligible countries .

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be:

  • legal entities (public or private bodies)
  • established in one of the eligible countries:
    • EU Member States (including overseas countries and territories (OCTs))
    • EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein)
    • other countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme (list of participating countries)

Specific cases:

Natural persons are NOT eligible (with the exception of self-employed persons, i.e. sole traders, where the company does not have legal personality separate from that of the natural person).

International organisations — International organisations are not eligible, unless they are International organisations of European Interest within the meaning of Article 2 of the Digital Europe Regulation (i.e. international organisations the majority of whose members are Member States or whose headquarters are in a Member State).

EU bodies — EU bodies (with the exception of the European Commission Joint Research Centre) can NOT be part of the consortium.

Entities without legal personality — Entities which do not have legal personality under their national law may exceptionally participate, provided that their representatives have the capacity to undertake legal obligations on their behalf, and offer guarantees for the protection of the EU financial interests equivalent to that offered by legal persons.

Associations and interest groupings — Entities composed of members may participate as ‘sole beneficiaries’ or ‘beneficiaries without legal personality’.

other eligibility criteria

Geographic location (target countries) Due to restrictions due to security: − the proposals must relate to activities taking place in the eligible countries (see above).

Projects involving EU classified information must undergo security scrutiny to authorise funding and may be made subject to specific security rules (detailed in a security aspects letter (SAL) which is annexed to the Grant Agreement).

Additional information

Topics

Digitalisation, Digital Society, ICT, 
Health, Social Services, Sports

Relevance for EU Macro-Region

EUSAIR - EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, EUSALP - EU Strategy for the Alpine Space, EUSBSR - EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, EUSDR - EU Strategy for the Danube Region

UN Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs)

project duration

between 36 and 48 months

Additional Information

Proposals must be submitted electronically via the Funding & Tenders Portal Electronic Submission System (accessible via the Topic page in the Search Funding & Tenders section. Paper submissions are NOT possible.

Proposals must be complete and contain all the requested information and all required annexes and supporting documents:

  • Application Form Part A — contains administrative information about the participants (future coordinator, beneficiaries and affiliated entities) and the summarised budget for the project (to be filled in directly online)
  • Application Form Part B — contains the technical description of the project (to be downloaded from the Portal Submission System, completed and then assembled and re-uploaded)
  • Mandatory annexes and supporting documents (to be uploaded):
    • detailed budget table/calculator: not applicable
    • CVs of core project team: not applicable
    • activity reports of last year: not applicable
    • list of previous projects (key projects for the last 4 years) (template available in Part B): applicable
    • ownership control declarations (including for associated partners and subcontractors): applicable

Proposals are limited to maximum 70 pages (Part B).

Call documents

DIGITAL-2024-AI-06 Call documentDIGITAL-2024-AI-06 Call document(688kB)

Contact

European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology
Website

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