High Resolution X-ray Imaging for Improved Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer (HIGHREX)

Basic data for this project

Description

Today, breast cancer is the most common cause of death from cancer for women below seventy years of age and currently over 100 million European women are screened every year for early detection through mammography. The objective of the HighReX project is to increase the efficiency in detection and diagnosis of breast cancer and thus to decrease the mortality in breast cancer. To achieve this we will develop a novel imaging method based on recent results in the research fields of nano-technology, x-ray optics, detector technology and integrated electronics. The new modality will be designed by leading European industry and SMEs (small or medium-sized enterprises) in these areas and develop the only commercially available European detector platform for digital mammography today into a leading technology platform for tomorrow. The novel method will provide significantly increased contrast and spatial resolution compared to current state-of-the art breast imaging through elimination of noise from electronics as well as from overlapping tissue and by way of utilizing the signal more efficiently through fast single photon counting parallel processing integrated circuits. To make sure that the project targets the right issues in breast imaging, experienced mammography doctors from several European breast imaging centers are involved in the project and they will also test and evaluate the new imaging system and compare it to current state-of-art mammography as well as ultrasound and MR imaging of the breast. The project will have significant impact on European healthcare and will make European industry a leader in the area of breast imaging.