Aortic Aneurysms: EU-funded Pandora Project Brings In-Silico Modelling to Aid Surgeons

A European collaboration developing predictive tools to personalise aortic surgery, enhance prosthesis selection, and support clinical decision-making

(IN BRIEF) PANDORA is an EU-funded collaboration uniting LivGemini, RBF Morph, INSA and UnivREN—alongside Rennes University Hospital—to create patient-specific “digital twins” of the aorta using AI-enhanced image analysis and high-fidelity simulations. By virtually testing different grafts and surgical scenarios, the platform aims to guide surgeons toward the optimal prosthesis and approach, reducing complications like graft kinking or abnormal wall stresses. Licensable to medical-device manufacturers for integration into hospital IT systems, PANDORA promises faster, more personalized device selection, shorter operative times, improved postoperative outcomes and cost savings. Project-coordinator Dr. Leonardo Geronzi, a Forbes “Top Under 30” in Science & Health, leads the team’s push to industrialize and clinically validate this next generation of decision-support tools.

(PRESS RELEASE) VITERBO, Italy, 7-Jul-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — In recent years, there has been a growing number of deaths associated with aortic aneurysms, as reported by several epidemiological studies. Despite medical advances, surgery remains the only truly effective option. To improve pre-operative planning and increase surgical precision, PANDORA, a European project integrating advanced in-silico modelling and high-performance computing technologies, was launched.

Promoted by the FFplus consortium, the project combines Italian and French expertise: the companies LivGemini and RBF Morph are collaborating with the research institutes INSA (Institut National des Sciences Appliquées) and UnivREN (Université de Rennes). The objective is to develop a digital system capable of replicating the behaviour of the patient’s aorta in a personalised and predictive manner.

‘Our in-silico model will allow surgeons to simulate surgery and accurately choose the most suitable prosthesis, significantly improving clinical outcomes,’ explains Leonardo Geronzi, PhD and project coordinator. ‘The technology integrates artificial intelligence for medical image analysis with advanced numerical simulations, bridging a still unresolved technological gap in the field.’

An Alliance to Innovate Cardiovascular Surgery

The PANDORA project aims to develop tools to support clinicians in the predictive assessment of aortic surgery outcomes, with a focus on post-surgery coronary perfusion, the risk of post-implant prosthesis kinking, and the abnormal distribution of stresses on the wall, potentially responsible for the formation of para-anastomotic aneurysms.

Each partner in the consortium brings an essential piece of the puzzle: LivGemini leads the development of the software, with the aim of bringing it to the healthcare market soon; UnivREN is in charge of extracting 3D models from clinical data; INSA performs material tests to characterise Dacron prostheses; RBF Morph develops mesh morphing algorithms to generate the datasets needed for artificial intelligence.

The strength of the project lies in its close collaboration with clinicians: the University Hospital of Rennes, through its LTSI laboratory, is committed to testing the technology in real clinical settings, contributing to the field validation of the tools developed.

Towards a New Generation of Digital Instruments in the Operating Room

The selection of the most suitable medical device, today often left to the experience of the individual surgeon, can benefit from support tools based on objective data and predictive models. PANDORA addresses this need with a B2B2B approach: the software will be licensed to medical device manufacturers, who will integrate it into their systems for hospitals and clinics.

Expected benefits include faster and more personalised device selection, improved post-operative outcomes, reduced surgical time, and significant cost savings for healthcare facilities.

Once the research and development phase is complete, LivGemini will begin the process of industrialising the software, aiming to bring to market a concrete, clinically validated solution that can improve surgical practice and patients’ quality of life.

Leonardo Geronzi, Founder and CEO of LivGemini

Leonardo Geronzi, biomedical engineer and European PhD in the H2020 project ‘MeDiTATe’, has been listed by Forbes as one of the Top Under 30 Italians for Science and Health. With experience in companies such as Ansys and RBF Morph, he has been working for over five years in the field of cardiovascular numerical simulation.

Media contact:
stanculescu.media@gmail.com

Photo:

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What exactly is an in-silico model?
   An in-silico model is a computer-based simulation that replicates biological structures and behaviors—in this case, the patient’s aorta—allowing surgeons to predict how various interventions will perform without physical trials.
2. How does AI contribute to PANDORA?
   AI algorithms automatically analyze medical imaging data (e.g., CT or MRI scans) to generate accurate, patient-specific 3D geometries of the aorta and surrounding structures, speeding up model creation and improving precision.
3. Which surgical risks can PANDORA help mitigate?
   The platform evaluates risks such as graft kinking, impaired coronary perfusion after surgery, and regions of abnormal wall stress that might lead to para-anastomotic aneurysm formation.
4. Who will use this software in practice?
   Medical-device manufacturers will license and integrate the PANDORA software into their surgical planning systems, which hospitals and clinics can then deploy for pre-operative decision support.
5. What benefits can hospitals expect?
   Faster and more personalized graft selection, shorter surgical procedures, better patient outcomes, and reduced costs associated with complications or suboptimal device choices.
6. What is the project timeline?
   PANDORA is currently in its research and development phase, with clinical validation underway at Rennes University Hospital. Afterward, LivGemini will lead industrialization and market rollout.
7. Who leads PANDORA’s scientific direction?
   Dr. Leonardo Geronzi, a biomedical engineer recognized by Forbes as a “Top Under 30” in Science & Health, coordinates the consortium and brings extensive experience in cardiovascular numerical simulation.

SOURCE: LivGemini