Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Belgium-The Netherlands (Vlaanderen-Nederland)

Date of latest update: 2025-10-31

Description

Description (NL):

Kanker blijft een wereldwijde uitdaging, met bijna 10 miljoen sterfgevallen in 2020 volgens de WHO. De rol van nauwkeurige kankerdiagnose en gepersonaliseerde behandeling is dus van cruciaal belang, vooral bij hersentumorpatiënten. Huidige behandelingen zoals oncologische chirurgie tonen succes, maar ongeveer 52% à 62% van de patiënten ervaart binnen 5 jaar een terugval. Door chirurgische beslissingen tijdens de operatie te verbeteren, kan de uitkomst voor patiënten significant beter worden. Het project richt zich daarvoor specifiek op een geavanceerde analytische techniek, namelijk massaspectrometrie. Een massaspectrometer meet uiterst nauwkeurig moleculen in een weefsel. Dit wordt gecombineerd met een methode waarbij de rook, die gecreëerd wordt bij het snijden tijdens een operatie, naar de massaspectrometer wordt gestuurd. Hierdoor wordt weefselherkenning in enkele seconden mogelijk. Deze methode voor de herkenning van hersentumoren werd reeds ontwikkeld in een samenwerking tussen Universiteit Maastricht en UZ Leuven. Het huidige systeem kent echter nadelen zoals grootte, geluid en kosten, waardoor de implementatie in de operatiekamer belemmerd wordt. Molecular Brain Tumor Detector wil dit probleem aanpakken door een handzame screener te ontwikkelen met een gebruiksvriendelijke interface voor snelle herkenning van kankertumoren tijdens de operatie. Projectpartner Next Generation Sensors is partner in de ontwikkeling van een compact massaspectrometersysteem. Daarbij wordt een nieuwe detector gebouwd en zullen alle kwalificatietesten uitgevoerd worden die nodig zijn zodat de screener klaar is voor effectieve productie en lancering. Bovendien zal partner Aspect Analytics het intelligente herkenningssysteem verder optimaliseren en in een gebruiksvriendelijke userinterface vorm geven. Het hele systeem zal door neurochirurgen van Maastricht Universitair Medisch Centrum+ (MUMC+), Universitair Ziekenhuis Leuven (UZ Leuven), Zuyderland, Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg (ZOL) en Algemeen Ziekenhuis (AZ) Groeninge uitgetest worden.

Description (EN):

Cancer continues to pose a significant global challenge, with nearly 10 million deaths reported in 2020 by the WHO. Accurate cancer diagnosis and personalized treatment are especially vital for brain tumor patients. While current treatments, such as surgical oncology, have shown success, around 52% to 62% of patients face a relapse within five years. Improving surgical decision-making during operations can greatly enhance patient outcomes. This project focuses on an advanced analytical technique known as mass spectrometry. A mass spectrometer accurately measures molecules in tissue samples. This technology is combined with a method that captures the smoke produced during surgical cutting and directs it to the mass spectrometer, allowing for quick tissue recognition within seconds. This brain tumor recognition method was previously developed through collaboration between Maastricht University and UZ Leuven. However, the current system has limitations, such as size, noise, and cost, which impede its use in operating rooms. Molecular Brain Tumor Detector aims to tackle these issues by developing a portable screener featuring a user-friendly interface for rapid cancer tumor recognition during surgery. Project partner Next Generation Sensors will assist in creating a compact mass spectrometer system. A new detector will be constructed, and all necessary qualification tests will be conducted to prepare the screener for effective production and launch. Additionally, partner Aspect Analytics will further optimize the intelligent recognition system and design a more user-friendly interface. The entire system will undergo testing by neurosurgeons from Maastricht University Medical Center+, University Hospital Leuven (UZ Leuven), Zuyderland, Hospital East Limburg (ZOL), and General Hospital (AZ) Groeninge.

Actual Achievements (NL): Ontwikkelen en versterken van de onderzoeks- en innovatiecapaciteit en invoeren van geavanceerde technologieën.

Actual Achievements (EN): Develop and strengthen research and innovation capacity and introduce advanced technologies.

Thematic information

Health and social services Scientific cooperation ICT and digital society

Type of intervention: 012 Research and innovation activities in public research centres, higher education and centres of competence including networking (industrial research, experimental development, feasibility studies)

Partners (7)

Lead Partner: Universiteit Maastricht

PIC (Participant Identification Code): E2316B81-4A8D-4356-8A89-7C9F8288F2D1

Address: Universiteitssingel, 6229ER Maastricht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/M4I

Total budget: EUR 1 457 189.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 728 594.90

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Aspect Analytics

Name: Aspect Analytics

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 5D2CFB3E-6509-4299-991D-DB0B45C43CE2

Address: C-mine, 3600 Genk, Belgium

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://www.aspect-analytics.com/

Total budget: EUR 896 751.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 448 375.90

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Academisch ziekenhuis Maastricht

Name: Academisch ziekenhuis Maastricht

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 5EAB66D4-CFC2-4BA0-BBD4-5BE65052C1AD

Address: P. Debyelaan, 6229HX Maastricht, Netherlands

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.mumc.nl

Total budget: EUR 279 168.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 139 584.20

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

AZ Groeninge

Name: AZ Groeninge

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 1AE8486F-5C3E-463C-8411-4BB4DA979327

Address: president kennedylaan, 8500 Kortrijk, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.azgroeninge.be

Total budget: EUR 210 691.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 105 345.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg A.V.

Name: Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg A.V.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 43325C2F-6C5E-43E7-9B86-47BCF9D58CC7

Address: Synaps Park, 3600 Genk, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: http://www.zol.be

Total budget: EUR 210 691.60

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 105 345.80

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Next Generation Sensors BV

Name: Next Generation Sensors BV

PIC (Participant Identification Code): CBF48AAC-AF52-4B58-BEE9-42779646EEF1

Address: Gaetano Martinolaan, 6229GS Maastricht, Netherlands

Legal status: private

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://www.ng-sensors.com

Total budget: EUR 906 040.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 453 020.40

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Name: Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 70938C90-DF96-4470-A755-3700D33771C9

Address: Oude Markt, 3000 Leuven, Belgium

Legal status: public

Organisation type: N.a.

Website: https://www.kuleuven.be/

Total budget: EUR 278 999.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 139 499.50

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 50.00%

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Aspect Analytics

Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Partners and Projects info

Universiteit Maastricht

Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Partners and Projects info

Academisch ziekenhuis Maastricht

Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Partners and Projects info

AZ Groeninge

Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Partners and Projects info

Ziekenhuis Oost Limburg A.V.

Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Partners and Projects info

Next Generation Sensors BV

Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Partners and Projects info

Katholieke Universiteit Leuven

Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (NL): Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Project acronym: Int6A032

Project ID: 390990C7-3637-41B2-A5A2-5AC5B80C5F69

Project start date: 2024-02-01

Project end date: 2027-01-31

Project status: ongoing

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 4 239 533.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 2 119 766.50

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 50.00%

Co-financing sources:

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

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Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Belgium-The Netherlands (Vlaanderen-Nederland)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-31

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

64 / 68 (94.12%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

737 / 783 (94.13%)

Notes on the data

Project CrossCare 2.0 is a special project with its own dedicated funding stream. This structure allows CrossCare 2.0 to independently launch funding calls and allocate financial support directly to participating companies. The total project budget, €7 million (incl. co-financing), includes both the central project funding and the amounts distributed to individual subprojects.

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Molecular Brain Tumor Detector

Description

Thematic information

Partners (7)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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