"The importance of imaging in patient care and diagnostics has grown enormously in recent years, and this is only the beginning. We are well equipped to contribute. We encompass two of three sides of the triangle of fundamental researchers, medical end-users and industrial developers. And due to our strategic alliance with Philips Medical Systems, industrial input is close at hand. Our imaging group is the largest group of its kind in the Netherlands and possibly even in Europe."
Max Viergever is an applied mathematician. The program combines fundamental mathematical and informatics approaches with clinically oriented research. Viergever: "The close relationship with patient care makes this environment attractive for people with technical training."
The program is currently pursuing three high-profile topics. First, the development of focused ultrasound which uses heat to damage tumor tissue in breasts. The temperature is monitored using MR imaging. Second, in close cooperation with Philips Medical Systems, the construction of a linear accelerator that can be combined with a MRI scanner. This will enable real-time MR imaging during radiation therapy. Third, together with Philips and Schering, the development of an optical mammography method in which a fluorescent dye is used to label tumor tissue. This could replace X-ray diagnostics of breast cancer. Researchers make use of a 7.0 Tesla MRI scanner. Viergever: "This enables molecular imaging, for example, detecting very small amounts of drug molecules acting in the brain."