Scientists and surgeons from Trinity College (IRL), Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IT), Amsterdam University Medical Centre (NL), and PLIO Surgical Limited (IRL) have received €2.5 Million in funding via the European Innovation Council (EIC) Transition Call for their project ‘SMARTHEAL’.
The SMARTHEAL team aims to innovate postoperative care for colorectal cancer patients, by developing a novel implant that could significantly improve patient care after surgery. Colorectal cancer affects ~2 million people worldwide each year. In most colorectal cancer cases surgery is necessary to remove the tumour, and intestinal continuity is restored through anastomosis. However, a serious complication following this procedure is anastomotic leakage in up to 20-30% of individuals. This complication is associated with high mortality rates, frequent repeat surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, increased healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life (QoL). Despite decades of research, the incidence of anastomotic leaks remains high.
SMARTHEAL - a novel approach to GI anastomosis
SMARTHEAL (figure) represents a groundbreaking innovation, being the first implant to simultaneously improve healing while enabling early detection of the leakage risk. The project will advance magnetic ring technology by embedding micro-sensors to detect key physical and biochemical markers of anastomotic leakage/healing. These sensors will be integrated with wireless electronics to transmit real-time data on leakage/healing biomarkers.
At AmsterdamUMC both the Kinderbuikcentrum of the Emma Children’s Hospital and Tytgat Institute (Prof. Joep Derikx, Prof. Wouter de Jonge, Dr. Ric van Tol) will be involved in demonstrating the implant’s accuracy in preclinical models and clinical applications. Moreover, AmsterdamUMC will further contribute to the identification of new biomarkers of anastomotic leakage/healing that could be incorporated in future magnetic sensor ring design.
Through this partnership between highly specialist academic research organizations and industrial MedTech partners, the project will likely have significant impact. Not only on surgical outcome, patient care and QoL, but also to reduce healthcare costs globally.
