Award-winning new X-ray technology raises hopes for better early detection of cancer and Alzheimer's disease

PD Dr Maximilian Ackermann has been awarded the Rudolf Virchow Prize 2022 by the German Society of Pathology (DGP) for his research into a new X-ray technique known as Hierarchical Phase-Contrast Tomography (HiP-CT). The scientist from the Institute of Pathology, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal of Witten/Herdecke University and the Institute of Anatomy of the Mainz University Medical Centre was able to provide fascinating three-dimensional insights into human anatomy and COVID-19 using the revolutionary HiP-CT method.

Hundred times better resolution than previous computed tomography

The Extremely Brilliant Source technology developed at the European Sychrotron Source in Grenoble is the world's first fourth-generation high-energy synchrotron source and currently the brightest X-ray source in the world. It provides images of the entire human body with a resolution of less than two micrometres - a resolution more than a hundred times better than that of conventional clinical computed tomography (CT). The renowned scientific journal Nature Methods has published an article on the new procedure(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41592-021-01317-x). The researchers are certain that the high resolution of the new image data sets will make it possible in future to map the three-dimensional extent of a tumour in greater detail for the treating physicians and subsequently assign a molecular fingerprint to individual tumour regions. A deeper, spatial understanding of the shape and molecular characteristics of the tumour is particularly important for subsequent immunotherapy or chemotherapy. "The procedure offers the opportunity to combine the best of the two specialist disciplines of pathology and radiology," says Ackermann, describing his hopes.

Hope for better early detection and treatment

"I am also delighted to be honoured with the Virchow Prize because it once again highlights the outstanding role that pathology and radiology play in early detection and that joint innovations can also directly help patients," says prizewinner Ackermann. He and the international, multidisciplinary team from Hanover, Leuven, Boston, London, the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) and elsewhere are now working intensively on the so-called "molecular radiomics" process. The aim is to learn from the new high-resolution images how the previous images can be analysed in a more targeted manner. "HiP-CT is only available in Grenoble and not in every hospital. We therefore want to use artificial intelligence and deep learning to improve the assessment of generally available CT and MRI images. But what do we have to teach the artificial intelligence so that it can do this? That is our current work," says Ackermann, explaining his research project. The researchers are using high-resolution images of detected cancer tumours to learn to recognise their structures even in the lower-resolution "normal" CT images. "In the HiP-CT images, we can also recognise precancerous lesions and very early signs of the deposits that trigger Alzheimer's disease. If we could virtually transfer this to the "normal" images, it would be a major step forward in terms of detection and early treatment," says Ackermann, describing his hopes for the future.

Prizewinner Maximilian Ackermann studied medicine in Mainz and Amsterdam and spent his postdoctoral period in Mainz and Boston. In addition to his two current places of work, he previously worked at the Institute of Pathology at Düsseldorf University Hospital.

The Rudolf Virchow Prize is the highest scientific prize awarded each year by the German Society of Pathology and the Rudolf Virchow Foundation at its annual conference in honour of the founder of modern medicine, the pathologist and anatomist Prof. Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902). The prize was awarded to the scientist on 10 June 2022 at the 105th Annual Congress of the German Society of Pathology (DGP) in Münster.