HyperSKIN · HYPERspectral monitoring for accurate light-based SKIN cancer treatment

The increasing incidence of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC, 330,000 new cases in Europe, 2022), due to the increase of elderly population, unprotected sun exposure and still poor prevention, is a huge public health concern worldwide. Recurrences and consequent need for repeated surgery are mainly associated with incomplete excision and positive tumor margins. Also, typical surgical risks of poor scarring, infection, pain, and time-consuming histopathological analysis demand innovative approaches, like light-based therapies, considered safe and effective options for many NMSC cases. However, none of traditional and new approaches perform intraoperative control, thus leading to cancer progression and recurrence. To overcome the lack of intraoperative monitored NMSC treatments, I benefit from a spectral imaging system I pioneered in my previous ERC project, for intraoperative monitoring of light-based treatment of tumors. HyperSKIN leverages the current NMSC management needs, and the ERC-proved technology to develop a contactless device that revolutionizes the decision-making regarding excisional margins before and during the procedure, with instantaneous feedback on the skin regions to be preserved and the tumoral parts to be removed. In this PoC, I will perform the technical-commercial feasibility study to move the HyperSKIN system to the market. I will prototype the HyperSKIN system and establish contacts with stakeholders for HyperSKIN validation and integration in clinical practice. The PoC will set a market and health technology assessment, the IP protection strategy, and identify the best business model and exploitation strategy for valorising the know-how.