On November 25, 2024, IHU Strasbourg and Medi-Globe Technologies GmbH inaugurated iGlobe Scientific, an innovative Joint Venture dedicated to the fight against pancreatic cancer. Thanks to Artificial Intelligence (AI), this ambitious project promises to transform the early diagnosis of this disease, offering new hope to patients and clinicians alike
A public health emergency: earlier detection to save more lives
With over 14,000 new cases and 11,500 deaths every year in France, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most feared cancers. Its late diagnosis considerably reduces the chances of survival, surgery being the only curative treatment at an early stage. iGlobe Scientific intends to respond to this emergency with real-time AI technology, designed to assist gastroenterologists during echo-endoscopy examinations, essential for detecting early lesions.
Pioneering technological advances
Under the leadership of Dr. Leonardo Sosa-Valencia of the IHU Strasbourg, the APEUS-IA project marked a key milestone. In partnership with the CAMMA (Computational Analysis and Modeling of Medical Activities) team at the University of Strasbourg, AI-based prototypes have already been validated in real-life conditions, offering reliable assistance in identifying pancreatic lesions.
An ecosystem conducive to innovation
Based in Strasbourg, iGlobe Scientific benefits from an exceptional environment. Supported by the Region Grand Est, the Eurométropole de Strasbourg and players such as Grand E-Nov+ and ADIRA, the Joint Venture benefits from the strategic proximity of the Nextmed Medical Technology Campus, a cluster dedicated to medical technologies.
Professor Christian Debry, General Director of the IHU Strasbourg, comments: “The integration of iGlobe Scientific within the IHU strengthens the synergy between our research, innovation and clinical teams. Strasbourg, with its Nextmed campus, is an ideal breeding ground for the development of cutting-edge solutions.”
Dr. Markus Schönberger, Director of Business Development at Medi-Globe, adds, “We chose Strasbourg for its clinical excellence, its dynamic AI ecosystem and its pool of innovative talent.”
Concrete benefits for patients
Echo-endoscopy is a complex but crucial technique for detecting early signs of pancreatic cancer. With iGlobe Scientific, clinicians will have a real-time digital assistant at their disposal, improving the accuracy of diagnoses and increasing the chances of rapid and appropriate management.
A project supported by major institutions
This innovative project was made possible thanks to €772,000 in funding from the ARC Fondation for cancer research and the involvement of regional partners. François Dupré, Managing Director of the ARC Foundation, emphasizes, “Supporting initiatives like APEUS-IA is essential to improving early cancer detection and saving lives.”
Towards a promising future
With iGlobe Scientific, IHU Strasbourg and Medi-Globe are paving the way for precision medicine, where early detection becomes accessible, enabling better-adapted and, ultimately, more curative treatments. This initiative marks a decisive step forward in the fight against cancer, for the benefit of patients and clinicians alike.
A Joint Venture supported by
