The projects are receiving funding within the research program Technology for Oncology II. NWO, Dutch Cancer Society and Top Sector Life Sciences & Health are investing 5.4 million euros in a total of eight projects; the companies and organizations involved are contributing more than 1.5 million.

An important aspect of this program is the collaboration between researchers from the technical and oncological world and industrial partners. This combination should lead to new breakthroughs in the fields of prevention, diagnostics, treatment and the quality of life of (future) patients with cancer. 

Hyperthermia

TU/e is leading one of the projects, working with Erasmus MC Rotterdam (among others) to improve MRI-controlled hyperthermia. In hyperthermia, tumor tissue is heated to 42-43 degrees Celsius, making radiation and chemotherapy on cancer cells more effective. A condition for effective treatment is that this heating is done as precisely as possible in such a way that the healthy surrounding tissue remains unaffected.

This project, led by Professor Maurice Heemels, will therefore work on new, self-learning control techniques that use MRI to very accurately measure and regulate (where necessary) the temperature at any point within the tumor. The 'Further improvement of hyperthermia' project is also the first project supported by the Center for Care & Cure Technology Eindhoven (C3Te), a center that stimulates collaborations between TU/e, hospitals and the medical industry in order to realize sustainable improvements in healthcare.

New MRI technique

In another project, researchers at UMC Utrecht and TU/e will be working on a new MRI technique. The aim is to more quickly determine, based on the proliferation and energy metabolism of the tumor whether treatments for pancreatic cancer and lung cancer are effective. For these aggressive, difficult-to-treat cancers, it is vitally important that the best treatment is provided in good time. Thanks to the involvement of parties such as Futura, MRCode and Wavetronica, this technique can be made available on a large scale in order to improve the effectiveness of treatment at an early stage.

Technology for Oncology is a so-called Partnership program. The starting point for Partnership programs is a research question posed by companies or health funds, for which Dutch university scientists can submit a research proposal. Both the NWO Domain TTW and Top Sector LSH have previously set up various public-private collaborative programs with health funds, including the Dutch Heart Foundation and the Dutch Kidney Foundation. During the course of the research, TTW will also ensure that scientists meet regularly with the partners involved in order to monitor developments and possible applications.