Multispectral Optoacoustic Tomography (MSOT) brings a revolution to bio-optical imaging. Being insensitive to photon scattering, MSOT dramatically improves upon conventional bio-optic barriers by enabling (1) three-dimensional high-resolution optical imaging deep inside tissues (several millimetres to centimetres), by (2) high-scalability, ranging from optical-resolution microscopy to acoustic-resolution optical mesoscopy and macroscopy and by (3) novel label-free anatomical, physiological and molecular contrast at the tissue and single-cell-level, based on spectrally-resolved optical absorption. MSOT, originally supported by an ERC Advanced Award (2008) (TUM: Prof. Ntziachristos), is already commercialized by iThera Medical for macroscopy with systems sold around the world for small animal imaging. In parallel, ERC MSOT funding developed a mesoscopic implementation, termed raster-scan optoacoustic mesoscopy (RSOM), which has demonstrated innovative imaging capacity at 1-5mm depths. Driven by leading dermatologists (TUM: Prof. Biedermann; SUR: Prof. Costanzo) and market leader SMEs in optoacoustic and ultrasound technology (iThera, Rayfos, Sonaxis), INNODERM will design and prototype a handheld, portable, scalable, label-free RSOM device for point-of care dermatology applications, based on recommendations developed under an ERC proof of concept grant (2013) on MSOT. INNODERM brings together key photonic & ultrasound technologies and will validate the technical and economic viability of RSOM in dermatology suites for fast diagnosis and skin disease monitoring. RSOM can go beyond the abilities of current optical or optoacoustic devices and offer a paradigm shift in dermatology imaging, substantiating successful business cases.

SWOPT is a novel imaging technology that will break through the penetration limits of optical microscopy to visualize individual cells and their function in vivo through several millimeters to centimeters of depth. SWOPT will exploit (1) optoacoustic imaging (OAI), a modality which combines signal generation similar to optical imaging with the whole-animal imaging capability of ultrasound readout, and uniquely augment it with (2) photoswitching to resolve signals from single labeled cells from deep within live tissue. This will achieve volume sampling abilities surpassing any optical microscopy by at least three orders of magnitude (> 5 x 5 x 5 mm imaging volume). SWOPT will develop the necessary breakthrough instrumentation and concepts: unique multiplexed diode illumination, novel ultra-wideband transducer technology, dedicated inversion algorithms that incorporate photoswitching in the three-dimensional reconstructions, and uniquely tailored classes of photo-switching transgene and synthetic molecular tools. The exceptional capabilities of SWOPT will be demonstrated by proof-of-concept work resolving cellular dynamics and functions in a whole tumor in a model of renal cancer in vivo. SWOPT builds on the world-leading expertise in the disciplines of OA imaging technology (Ntziachristos GER), applied mathematics (Unser CH), and cancer metabolism (Frezza UK) and is driven by excellent young researchers in protein-engineering (Stiel GER) and chemical synthesis (Szymanski NL) and supported by the science-to-technology focus of ambitious high-tech SMEs (Sonaxis FRA, iThera GER, Spear GER). SWOPT’s uniquely comprehensive, yet detailed imaging will enable examination of whole tissues in vivo with the same ease, flexibility and, eventually, abundance of tools paralleling fluorescence microscopy, thus bringing research and understanding of living organisms to the next level. As an affordable imaging technology, SWOPT aspires to become routine in life science and bio-medical research.

Optoacoustic (photoacoustic) imaging dramatically improves upon conventional bio-optic barriers and enables three-dimensional, high-resolution optical imaging deep inside tissues (several mm to cm). Clinical optoacoustic macroscopy has been supported by two ERC Advanced Awards (2008, 2016; Prof. Ntziachristos). In parallel, under the ICT program INNODERM, we developed mesoscopic optoacoustic imaging for dermatology diagnostics. Termed raster-scan optoacoustic mesoscopy (RSOM), the method can image previously invisible ❶ pathophysiological/oxygenation and ❷ morphological features of the skin at depths of 1-5mm. RSOM has already shown clinical diagnostic value in dermatology and, fuelled by INNODERM, has been commercialised and globally placed by iThera Medical. WINTHER builds on this success. While INNODERM focused on diagnostic dermatology, it has become apparent that RSOM can also assess progression and therapy not only in skin but also in cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. However, to achieve this, RSOM should be able to assess endothelial function, ability that it is not yet available. WINTHER will build next-generation fast RSOM (F-RSOM), operating up to two orders of magnitude faster than state-of-the-art RSOM, enabling it to assess not only ❶,❷ above but also ❸ endothelial function. Using the skin as a window for disease assessment and aided by a modern computation framework, based on deterministic and artificial intelligence algorithms, F-RSOM aims to improve the clinical accuracy of RSOM and shift the paradigm in therapeutic monitoring of cardio-metabolic diseases and inflammatory skin conditions, strengthening Europe's leadership in photonics and in personalized medicine. The project is driven iThera Medical with a strong history of commercializing optoacoustics for clinical applications, by leading physicians (TUM, HUNIMED), and by RSOM, RSOM components and data analysis experts (TUM, iThera, Rayfos, Sonaxis).