Endorsed projects
EFOMP as a Stakeholder (2022-2027)
1. RHYTHM (Radiation, Health, Safety and Quality for Youth: A Comprehensive Approach to Justification, Optimisation, and Education)
The RHYTHM project aims to improve the quality and radiation safety of medical imaging for children, adolescents, and young adults, with a particular focus on CT, SPECT/CT, PET/CT, and CT as part of radiotherapy planning. Recognising the sensitivity of this population to ionising radiation and the critical need for optimised imaging practices, RHYTHM targets key challenges in justification, optimisation, availability, and accessibility of imaging services. These challenges include inappropriate imaging practices, disparities in access to dedicated paediatric imaging equipment, and insufficient education and outreach to healthcare professionals and patients.
EFOMP expert at the advisory board: Dessislava Kostova Lefterova
2. INTERACT-EUROPE 100
The INTERACT-EUROPE inter-specialty cancer training programme has the potential to contribute to the improvement of cancer care and outcomes at both European and global levels. It has a clear and unwavering objective: improve cancer care by improving the collaboration of those providing it. The INTERACT-EUROPE vision is all about breaking down medical silos. It provides professionals from different specialties with the skills to communicate with each other more effectively for better patient care.
EFOMP expert at the advisory board: Efi Koutsouveli
For more information, please download our blueprint summary.
3. TraMeXI (Traceability in Medical X-ray Imaging dosimetry)
X-ray imaging is an important technique used in medicine however it’s use forms the largest component of exposure to artificial ionizing radiation. Consistent quantification of a patient’s exposure to radiation with calibrated dosimetry equipment is essential to comply with Council Directive and ensure patient safety. Currently, the procedures used by calibration laboratories, based on relevant standards and international protocols, do not fully consider the recent technical developments in X-ray imaging. This project will perform a critical assessment of conditions applied in calibrations and study the performance of different dosimeters. Updated measurement and calibration procedures will be proposed for inclusion into standards and protocols.
The project team is running two surveys for medical physicists to collect data on currently used dosimeters and radiation qualities. Now you have a chance to impact, so please reply to the survey by the end of November:
https://tramexi.com/blog/
Researcher and EFOMP expert at the advisory board: Mika Kortesniemi
4. Real-Time Adaptive Particle Therapy Of Cancer (RAPTOR) Real-Time Adaptive Particle Therapy Of Cancer (RAPTOR)
The high precision of PT comes as a double-edged sword since PT is normally less robust than X-ray radiotherapy. Several uncertainties, such as changes in anatomy, positioning, organ delineation and systematic uncertainties can have a significant impact on where the final dose is delivered. The reliability of PT has increased in recent years with robust treatment planning, however, it still remains sensitive to larger uncertainties that have to be minimized to exploit the full benefit of PT. The clinical workflow in PT has been adopted from conventional X-ray radiotherapy, where the treatment plan is based on the initial computed tomography (CT) scan of a patient. Since, the treatment usually lasts several weeks, it is likely that the initial treatment plan becomes less valid due to the changes of the patient anatomy as the treatment progresses.
5. AI-POD
AI-POD project is funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe. The project commenced on May 1, 2023, and is scheduled to run until April 30, 2027. Led by Prof. Ulrike Attenberger from the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), Germany, the consortium comprises 11 partners from 8 European countries.
AI-POD is a transformative initiative set out to revolutionise obesity-related disease prediction for cardiovascular disease. The mission of AI-POD is to significantly improve the risk assessment and management of obesity-related vascular disease. This is achieved through developing a unique AI-based risk prediction score and Clinical Decision Support System, both guided by a wealth of individual patient data. Furthermore, the aim of the project is to develop a Citizen App that integrates real-time monitoring of diet and lifestyle into standard risk assessment, forming a fully digitalized feedback loop between patients and clinicians. Through these innovative tools, a digital feedback loop between patients and clinicians will be created. Ultimately transform the standard of care for obesity-related diseases, potentially shaping future treatment strategies and guidelines.
EFOMP expert at the advisory board: Diana Adlienė
6. Traceable dosimetry for FLASH radiotherapy
Recently a new form of treatment, termed “FLASH” radiotherapy, has emerged that delivers radiation at ultra-high dose-rates (UHDR) (> 40 Gy/s) or ultra-high dose-per-pulse (UHDPP) (>0.6 Gy/pulse). This has demonstrated the capability to spare healthy tissue up to 40%, while still suppressing tumour growth.
However, the code of practice (CoP) used for calibrating conventional beam monitors, IAEA TRS-398, cannot be used in FLASH therapy as this uses ionisation chambers as calibration standards which do not function correctly under UHDR/UHDPP conditions.
This project will address these issues and develop three new portable primary standards suitable for FLASH therapy conditions and, based on simulations and clinical-like reference fields, will make recommendations on how to extend existing CoPs to UHDR proton and UHDPP electron beams. The work performed is expected to positively impact the FLASH treatment facilities already installed in Europe and will enhance the speed of clinical implementation of FLASH therapy.
EFOMP expert at the advisory board: Kilian Baumann
7. CLAUD-IT: Clinical Audit Implementation in Europe - a practical and multidisciplinary approach
The objectives of CLAUD-IT are to improve clinical audit practice in EU Member States, foster implementation of clinical audit in radiology and nuclear medicine, and thus improve quality and safety of patients.
There is strong scientific evidence that clinical audit is a key component to improve quality and safety of medical imaging. Therefore, the official recommendation is to implement them widely into clinical practice. In addition, according to the European Basic Safety Standards Directive, 2013/59/Euratom, all Member States are required to carry out clinical audits “in accordance with national procedures” by law. Nevertheless, in most EU member states, clinical audits are still not sufficiently implemented.
CLAUD-IT builds on the results of the QuADRANT and EU-JUST-CT projects as well as resources developed by the European Society of Radiology and European Association of Nuclear Medicine with the ultimate goal to further improve justification and optimization and hence the overall quality and safety of radiology and nuclear medicine procedures. An Implementation Board will be set up consisting of national implementation teams of the participating countries, including representatives from the national radiology and nuclear medicine societies, authorities/agencies in charge of clinical audit in the respective countries in order to plan wider rollout and support of clinical audit campaigns and to ensure clinical audit is embedded as a core element of the wider healthcare systems.
EFOMP expert at the advisory board: Renata Madru
8. 24RPT01 ETrain - Establishing traceability routes in nuclear medicine
This project will provide traceability routes and calibration services for key radionuclides with an uncertainty of 2 % or better, developed in collaboration with the local responsible NMI/DI and partner hospitals. It will also validate the effectiveness of these by performing comparison exercises, targeting that 80% or more of participants are from emerging metrology in this field. Guidance documents will also be developed to further improve the accessibility of traceable calibration routes in Europe.
This will ensure clinics and hospitals will be able to comply to European directives and provide a better outcome for the millions of patients treated each year with radionuclides.
EFOMP expert at the advisory board: Silvano Gnesin