CD Laboratory for Patient-Centered Breast Imaging
Date: 2024 - 2031
Funding: Christian Doppler Forschungsgesellschaft
Collaborator(s): Department of Biomedical Imaging and Image-guided Therapy Medical University of Vienna, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics GmbH, ALSIX GmbH, BRACCO IMAGING S.p.A., b-rayZ AG
Information:Judit Simon (WP Lead), Nataša Perić (co-lead)
The aim of this CD Laboratory is to develop technological innovations in breast imaging using artificial intelligence, with a focus on acceptance, safety, diagnostic accuracy and optimising the cost-benefit profile.
Technical advances in breast imaging (BI) over the past few decades have focused primarily on solving the medical problem of diagnostic accuracy. Despite improvements in diagnosis and treatment, breast cancer is still the leading cause of cancer-related death in women. About 1% of breast cancer diagnoses affect men, and the trend is rising. Current imaging techniques are perceived as uncomfortable, even painful, by many individuals, as the breast must be compressed. As a result, breast cancer screening is insufficiently accepted, not only among women, but also, for example, among men with high-risk genetic mutations, transgender individuals and non-binary individuals. Technological innovations now allow us to focus not only on the well-being of women, but also on that of patients in general.
This CD Laboratory therefore pursues a Triple-S (Soft, Safe and Smart) approach: ensuring patient well-being (Soft), increasing the acceptance and effectiveness (Safe) of BI and integrating fundamental innovations (Smart).
The project is divided into three work packages: (i) mammography-based BI, (ii) magnetic resonance imaging of the breast, and (iii) evaluation of health economic and patient-related aspects. The DHE is responsible for the economic evaluation within the project.