Stroke and epilepsy research receives millions in funding from MedTechLabs

“In this call for proposals, the number of applications peaked and the two projects that have now been granted funding for five years aim to improve diagnostics in important disease areas: peripheral vascular disease and epilepsy. In addition to a clear link to clinical application, the projects have great potential to contribute to better treatment of broad patient groups both in Sweden and internationally”, says Clara Hellner, MedTechLab’s Chair and until recently Director of Research and Innovation, Region Stockholm.

“Improving health care in peripheral vascular disease: from population-based to individualized decision-making“

Research leaders are Ulf Hedin, KI and Christian Gasser, KTH. Granted amount: SEK 4.5 million per year 2025 -2029.

Stroke disease from carotid atherosclerosis, aortic aneurysm rupture and aortic rupture account for a significant proportion of cardiovascular disease mortality with major consequences for both individuals and society. Today, these diseases are managed with strategies based on population studies where the choice of treatment is based on algorithms that optimize treatment outcomes for many, but far from all, patients. New technologies for molecular, morphological, biomechanical and imaging analyses make it possible to profile patients to individualize their risk assessment and treatment.

The new project is based on a translational research platform in collaboration between the Vascular Surgeon at Karolinska University Hospital, Karolinska Institutet (KI), SciLifeLab and the Department of Materials and Structural Mechanics, KTH Royal Institute of Technology. Initially, the researchers will develop molecular markers in blood, biomarkers, through advanced protein analysis for patients at high risk in each disease. In the next step, high-resolution imaging will be implemented to characterize in detail molecular, morphological and biomechanical features for risk assessment of disease expression. With this approach, patients with established clinical risk factors for unfavorable disease progression can be stepwise risk assessed and efficiently selected for appropriate treatment. This optimizes both individual survival and the use of health care resources.

“Imaging the Epileptic Brain using Multimodal Quantum Sensors”

Research leaders are Daniel Lundqvist, KI and Val Zviller, KTH. Granted amount: SEK 2.5 million per year 2025 – 2029.

Epilepsy affects millions of people worldwide and for 30%, medication does not work, causing them to have severe and frequent seizures. For these patients, surgery is often the best option, but it requires precise identification of the area of the brain that causes the seizures – called the Seizure Onset Zone (SOZ). Current methods to find the right zone where seizures start include medical imaging techniques such as MRI, PET and EEG, but these techniques sometimes don’t give a clear picture, especially when there are no obvious abnormalities in the brain. The granted project therefore combines two innovative techniques: superconducting nanowire single photon detectors (SN-SPD) and optically pumped magnetometers (OPM-MEG).

The first technique detects small changes in brain metabolism, while the second measures the magnetic field generated by brain activity – with incredible precision. By combining the techniques, the researchers hope to create a uniquely detailed picture of where and how abnormal brain activity occurs in the patient. This would not only help to more accurately pinpoint where seizures start, but also provide new insights into how seizures start and spread throughout the brain. The benefit lies in providing surgeons with better maps of where to operate. If successful, the project could therefore lead to more effective treatments and a better quality of life for people with epilepsy.

Research at both programs is expected to be up and running by January 2025.

MedTechLabs is a multidisciplinary center for patient-oriented research that will contribute to breakthroughs in the development of medical technology with relevance to the important challenges of healthcare and our major public diseases. In all programs, researchers and clinicians with both technical and medical expertise always collaborate. The center is jointly run by KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Karolinska Institutet and Region Stockholm.

For more information, please contact:
Liz Adamsson
Executive Director MedTechLabs
Phone: 08-790 60 84
E-mail: lizad@kth.se
Website: www.medtechlabs.se