In a move to advance precision cancer treatment, GE HealthCare is partnering with University Medicine Essen (UME) to establish a new Theranostics Center of Excellence in Germany. This collaboration aims to push the boundaries of personalized medicine, using cutting-edge technology to provide tailored cancer treatments based on each patient’s unique biology.
Theranostics, a combination of therapy and diagnostics, allows clinicians to better target cancer cells by using imaging tools that guide treatments directly to the disease site. By pairing advanced diagnostics with precision therapies, this approach has the potential to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. However, the technology and research required to fully realize this potential are complex, which is where the new center comes in.
Ken Herrmann, MD, from UME’s Clinic for Nuclear Medicine, explained, “Theranostics combines targeted treatment with diagnostic tools, offering personalized care. But it requires continuous research and cutting-edge technology. Our partnership with GE HealthCare will help us advance this field and refine therapies for better patient outcomes.”
The center will be equipped with state-of-the-art imaging systems, such as PET/CT and PET/MR, as well as artificial intelligence tools that improve diagnosis accuracy and help tailor treatment plans. This will enable doctors to better assess disease progression and treatment effectiveness, enhancing personalized care.
One key part of the collaboration is the development of new radioisotopes, which are used to create tracers that help identify cancer cells during imaging. These tracers provide detailed molecular information about the patient’s cancer, allowing for more targeted therapies. GE HealthCare’s technologies will also help streamline the production of these tracers, making them more accessible and cost-effective.
The center’s advanced imaging capabilities will be further boosted by AI solutions designed to improve care coordination and clinical workflows. These digital tools are expected to enhance the ability of clinicians to make precise, real-time decisions about cancer treatment.