Recently closed projects

EMPIR project: MagNaStand - Towards an ISO standard for magnetic nanoparticles (2017 - 2020)

Projektleiter (UMIT): Univ.-Prof. Dr. Daniel Baumgarten

Koordinator: Dr. Uwe Steinhoff (PTB, Germany)

Kooperationspartner: PTB (Germany), INRIM (Italy), NPL (United Kingdom), BSI Standards Limited (United Kingdom), Das-Nano S.L. (Spain), DIN Deutsches Institut für Normung e. V. (Germany), Institut Royal Meteorologique De Belgique (Belgium), micromod Partikeltechnologie GmbH (Germany), RISE Acreo AB (Sweden), University College London (United Kingdom)

Förderung: MagNaStand (16NRM04) is a joint research project (JRP) funded by the European Metrology Programme for Innovation and Research (EMPIR).

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) find wide biomedical and technical applications however there are currently no existing standards for characterising this material class. This project will expand and summarise the metrological knowledge on the measurement and characterisation of MNP and bring it into the current development of ISO 19807 “Liquid suspensions of magnetic nanoparticles” by ISO/TC229 WG4. This will involve a close collaboration with national and international standardisation organisations, interaction with the involved European industry, and the uptake of results of about 90 previous EU research projects including “NanoMag” and “RADIOMAG”. In addition to the finalisation of ISO 19807, a roadmap for further measurement standards for magnetic nanoparticles will be developed.

For more information see the PTB project homepage and the EURAMET homepage.

Next Generation CoolLoop (2017 - 2018)

Optimierung von Vorhersagemodellen zur Biomarkeridentifikation (2017 - 2018)

DFG project: CoS-MRXI - Compressed sensing for magnetorelaxometry imaging of magnetic nanoparticles (2016 - 2019)

Projektleiter (UMIT TIROL): Univ.-Prof. Dr. Daniel Baumgarten

Kooperationspartner: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Martin Burger (Institute for Computational and Applied Mathematics, WWU Münster, Germany)

Förderung: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) im Schwerpunktprogramm (SPP) 1798: Compressed Sensing in Information Processing (CoSIP)

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNP) offer a variety of biomedical applications, especially in cancer therapy. A quantitative knowledge about the distribution of MNP is mandatory for the safety and efficacy of the therapy. To date, no clinically available modality is able to offer this information. Magnetorelaxometry imaging (MRXI) is a rather new technology which is able to detect particle distributions quantitatively using inhomogeneous excitation fields. Excitation coils are switched on consecutively to orient the MNP along their field lines and the relaxation signals of the particles are measured after each excitation. Currently long measurement times and large amounts of data are produced by this technology due to the consecutive activation of coils.

This project aims to combine compressed sensing (CS) methods with MRXI. The goal is to develop appropriate excitation sequences for existing setups as well as preferential designs for coil- and sensor positions and orientations. This will result in a fundamental advancement of the imaging technology, meaning a substantial improvement of spatial resolution and vastly reduced measurement times. Theoretically, we expect a better understanding of CS-paradigms for applications in which only parts of the sensing matrix are fixed. Additionally, novel quantitative reconstruction algorithms for CS-paradigms are being developed. These findings can be adapted to other biomedical imaging modalities in the future.

K-Regio project: VAMEL - Vestibular Anatomy Modeling and Electrode Design (2013 - 2016)

Principal Investigator (UMIT TIROL-WP2): Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner

Funding: Standortagentur Tirol within the K-Regio program

Cooperation partners:

MED-EL

The current project brings together crucial Tyrolian contributions to device design for increased safety and functionality, and thereby successful usage of a Vestibular prosthesis in the clinical routine –an essential requirement for international product approval. These will be accomplished by the Inner Ear Laboratory of the Medical University of Innsbruck (Prof. Anneliese Schrott Fischer, MUI), the Institute for Biomedical Image Analysis (Prof. Rainer Schubert, IBIA), and the Institute for Electrical Engineering and Biomedical Technique (Prof.Christian Baumgartner, IEBE) (UMIT TIROL). The partners within this project are connected by a fundamental merging: Based on the results from high-resolution μCT-recordings and corresponding histology of a statistically relevant number of inner ear preparations, an anatomical and electrical computer model of the inner ear will be established. The development and investigation of the aspired inner ear model together with the appendant CAD-, visual-, and function analysis tools will lead to an innovative scientific and technological nucleus that enables the partners to integrate and advance various aspects of inner ear research with medical and implant developments. The aimed-for results not only allow the integration of morphology, structure, and anatomical variability with electrical and electrophysiological aspects but also the inclusion of molecular, biological and pathological knowledge - and verification of current scientific hypotheses. They also allow the feasibility of new approaches and technologies for stimulation to be explored.

This will be followed by a direct implementation of the model in order to address and solve critical technological questions concerning the development of the Vestibular Implant: for example regarding electrode design: – carrier shape, contact positioning, and placement. It will constitute a hitherto unique basis for scientific and technological developments focussed on the inner ear and inner ear implants, and can thus be regarded as a scientific, technological and potential economic advantage of location. The development of the vestibular electrode is a new technological challenge for manufacturing, tools and mould design that will be solved by MED-EL with the support of Fa. Sistro GmbH (Hall in Tyrol).

Project MyCor-: Myocardial infarction and coronary sent care program in Tyrol: Technical and medical evaluation (2013-2014)

Principal investigator: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner
Funding: SVA, AIT and TILAK

Cooperation partners:
AIT, Graz/Hall
TILAK, Innsbruck
SVA, Innsbruck
UMIT TIROL-Hall (IEBE, IMI)

K-regio project: CryoTipCatheter (2010 - 2014)

Principal Investigator: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner

Funding: Standortagentur Tirol and the EU-EFRE

Cooperation partners:

Cardiology Department, Innsbruck Medical University

AFreeze GmbH, Innsbruck

Micado, Lienz

Philips project: Dynamic myocardial perfusion (2012 - 2013)

Post processing leader: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner
Funding: Philips
Cooperation partners:

Philips, Netherlands

Bakoulev Center for Cardiovascular Surgery, Moscow

GEN-AU Project: Bioinformatics Integration Network III (BIN III), Subproject 7: Data Mining for Cancer and Cardiovascular Diseases (2009 - 2012)

Principal Investigator: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner

Funding: Bundesministerium für Bildung, Wissenschaft und Kultur (bm:bwk)

IMGuS Pilot Project: Systems Biology of Prostate Cancer, Subproject 7: Data Infrastructure (2006 - 2011)

Principal Investigator: Priv.-Doz. Dr. Bernhard Pfeifer, Univ.-Prof. Dr. Christian Baumgartner

Funding: Nationalstiftung für Forschung, Technologie & Entwicklung and Austria Wirtschaftsservice (AWS)

Biomedizinische Informatik und Mechatronik