University of Twente’s PIHC Innovation Fund Awards €60,000 Grants to Healthcare Projects Advancing Patient Care and Technology

University of Twente’s PIHC Innovation Fund Awards €60,000 Grants to Healthcare Projects Advancing Patient Care and Technology

(IN BRIEF) On 30 January 2025, over 100 healthcare professionals and researchers gathered at Medisch Spectrum Twente for the presentation of the Pioneers in HealthCare (PIHC) vouchers, aimed at fostering innovative projects to enhance healthcare. Ten projects were selected from 37 submissions, each receiving a €60,000 grant. The selected projects address various medical challenges such as sleep apnea, cancer, and heart failure, along with cutting-edge technologies like AI systems, 3D printing, and imaging innovations. Past PIHC recipients, Anneriet Dassen and Maureen Guichelaar, presented their impactful research that focuses on enhancing diagnostics and personalized care for breast cancer and liver cancer patients. The PIHC vouchers encourage collaboration between academic institutions and healthcare organizations to drive transformative advancements in the healthcare sector.

(PRESS RELEASE) ENSCHEDE, 1-Feb-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — On Thursday, January 30, over one hundred healthcare professionals and researchers gathered at Medisch Spectrum Twente (MST) to celebrate the awarding of Pioneers in HealthCare (PIHC) vouchers. These grants, worth €60,000 each, aim to support innovative healthcare projects that enhance patient care and improve efficiency in the medical field.

The PIHC Innovation Fund, now in its 11th year, is a collaboration between the University of Twente, Saxion University of Applied Sciences, MST, Ziekenhuisgroep Twente (ZGT), and Deventer Hospital. This annual event underscores the critical role of sustained partnerships between knowledge institutions and healthcare organizations in fostering innovation and driving advancements in healthcare.

Supporting Breakthroughs in Medical Research and Technology

This year, 37 proposals were submitted, with 10 projects selected to receive funding. The selected initiatives cover a broad spectrum of medical challenges, including sleep apnea, endometriosis, heart failure, asthma, and cancer, as well as the application of cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 3D printing, and advanced imaging systems.

During the event, Anneriet Dassen and Maureen Guichelaar, both medical specialists at MST, shared the impactful outcomes of their research projects funded by the PIHC vouchers in 2022. Guichelaar’s AI-based MRI model, developed to predict a form of liver cancer, not only streamlines the diagnostic process but also minimizes unnecessary tests, enhancing early detection and treatment. Meanwhile, Dassen introduced the digital Patients-Like-Me (PLM) dashboard for breast cancer patients, enabling them to make more informed decisions about their treatment options by visualizing long-term health outcomes alongside medical prognoses.

Fostering Collaboration for a Better Healthcare Future

Miriam Vollenbroek, Board Member of MST, highlighted the significance of these vouchers, emphasizing how collaboration between academic institutions and healthcare organizations is key to shaping the future of healthcare. “By working together, we are developing the solutions that will transform healthcare. The PIHC grants provide a powerful incentive for continued collaboration and innovation.”

For more information on the PIHC Innovation Fund and to view summaries of the awarded proposals, please visit the PIHC website.

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SOURCE: University of Twente