Together with the European Society of Radiology (ESR), EIBIR is pleased to announce the three winning projects of the 2025 ESR Research Seed Grant Global.

Launched to promote global radiology research with a particular focus on Eastern European, Central Asian, and African countries, the Seed Grant Global supports innovative pilot studies that address pressing challenges in radiology. The 2025 call focused on three priority areas: Green Radiology Departments, Cost-Effective Radiology, and Workforce Sustainability.

From 49 applications across 20 countries worldwide, three projects were selected for funding over a two-year period:

Green Radiology Departments

Project: WAFI-GREEN – Women’s Advanced Facility for Imaging – Green Radiology Pilot
Summary: This project integrates sustainability into women-centered imaging services, aiming to reduce energy consumption and contrast media waste by 10–15%. It will establish a replicable framework for green radiology and position the host facility as a pioneer in environmentally responsible imaging.

Lead Investigator: Hanan Gwefel, Women and Fetal Imaging (WAFI), Egypt

Workforce Sustainability

Project: AI-Supported Workflow Optimization and Burnout Reduction in Northeast Nigeria
Summary: This pilot will assess the feasibility of AI-driven workflow improvements in fragile, conflict-affected, and climate-vulnerable settings. It aims to reduce burnout, improve service delivery, and inform broader workforce resilience strategies across Africa.

Lead Investigator: Alaysaa Anas, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Cost-Effective Radiology

Project: Diagnostic Accuracy of Triple point-of-care-ultrasonography (POCUS)for Pulmonary Embolism Diagnosis in Ghana
Summary: This study will evaluate triple POCUS as a frontline diagnostic tool for pulmonary embolism in resource-limited settings. If successful, it could revolutionize emergency diagnostics across West Africa, reducing costs and environmental impact.

Lead Investigator: Papa Kojo Mbroh, Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Ghana; Elizabeth Joekes, Worldwide Radiology, United Kingdom

The selected projects are expected to catalyze larger research initiatives and contribute to sustainable, equitable, and innovative radiology practices worldwide.

Read more about the projects and their expected impact here.

The COMPASS-AI consortium and the European Commission are excited to announce the official launch of the COMPASS-AI Project “Community Of Multidisciplinary Professionals Advancing Safe and Successful AI Implementation in Clinical Practice”, a flagship project under the EU’s Apply AI Strategy to accelerate the safe and effective deployment of AI systems in clinical settings to benefit Europe’s patients and citizens.

The 4-year project co-funded under the EU4Health programme focuses on practical implementation of best practices in AI deployment in healthcare by developing scalable, equitable solutions, with a focus on cancer care and remote regions. It will build, expand and sustain a multidisciplinary community of experts, including healthcare professionals, patient representatives, AI developers, IT specialists, hospital managers, regulators, ethicists, economists and policymakers, who will leverage their collective expertise to identify challenges, enablers, and actionable strategies for AI implementation.

COMPASS-AI will define evidence-based AI deployment guidelines for Europe and validate them through four pilot studies conducted across European countries, in diverse healthcare environments, covering radiology, pathology, surgery and both hospital and general practice settings. A sustainable, interactive digital platform will host best practices, foster collaboration and knowledge exchange, and offer educational programs tailored to stakeholder needs to improve AI literacy.

The project is coordinated by the Maastricht University Medical Center, sharing scientific coordination with the Netherlands Cancer Institute, with the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR) as lead partner for management and dissemination.

“We are honoured to lead this flagship project that will deliver the foundations for exchanging best practices and speed up safe, scalable and equitable AI deployment in healthcare across Europe”, Prof. Regina Beets-Tan and Dr. Laurens Topff, Scientific Coordinators of the project, stated at the kick-off meeting.

The project will build upon FUTURE-AI, an established framework for trustworthy AI in healthcare and align with the EU’s Apply AI strategy as well as related European digital health legislation, reinforcing its strategic relevance for advancing health innovation across Europe.

“The European Commission welcomes the launch of COMPASS-AI, one of the flagship projects underpinning the Apply AI Strategy published on 10 October 2025. COMPASS-AI will support the safe, efficient and effective integration of artificial intelligence into clinical practice, delivering tangible benefits for patients across Europe”, according to Yiannos Tolias, legal lead on AI and AI liability in Healthcare at the European Commission DG SANTE.

COMPASS-AI will further align with Cancer Image Europe as enabling infrastructure to aid AI implementation and deployment in clinics by leveraging its best practices in interoperability and data sharing.

COMPASS-AI Kick-off Meeting, Brussels/BE, 20 October 2025 with high-level representatives from the European Commission and HaDEA.

Contact information: office@eibir.org
More information on the project as well as its partners at https://www.eibir.org/projects/compass-ai/
COMPASS-AI LinkedIn account: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/compassai-health/about/

COMPASS-AI is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101233553. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

Vienna, Austria – October 21, 2025 – The 4-year RHYTHM project (Radiation, Health, Safety and Quality for Youth: A Comprehensive Approach to Justification, Optimisation, and Education) officially launched with a kick-off meeting on 21–22 October 2025 in Vienna. Co-funded by the EU4Health Programme of the European Commission and coordinated by the European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR), RHYTHM brings together leading experts in radiology, nuclear medicine, medical physics, healthcare management, and patient advocacy from across Europe.

RHYTHM aims to improve the quality, safety, and accessibility of medical imaging for children, adolescents, and young adults, groups particularly sensitive to ionising radiation. The project addresses key challenges in imaging justification, optimisation, and education across modalities such as computed tomography (CT), hybrid imaging (SPECT/CT and PET/CT), and CT for radiotherapy planning.

Through interdisciplinary collaboration, RHYTHM will:

• Develop evidence-based referral and clinical guidelines and enhance clinical decision support systems (CDSS) to promote appropriate and justified imaging.
• Establish a European repository for benchmarking CT doses and image quality, supporting standardised and optimised imaging practices across healthcare institutions.
• Deliver comprehensive education and training programmes for healthcare professionals to strengthen knowledge in radiation protection and effective patient communication.
• Implement awareness campaigns for parents, carers, and young patients to improve understanding of the benefits and potential risks of medical imaging.

RHYTHM will establish a European dose and image repository that will serve as a practical tool for benchmarking and optimisation. By enabling hospitals to compare scanner settings, dose levels, and image quality across institutions using similar equipment, the repository will help standardise imaging practices, reduce unnecessary radiation exposure, and improve diagnostic consistency throughout Europe.

In parallel, the project will focus on capacity building and sustainability through the development of multidisciplinary training materials, online modules, and CME-accredited webinars. These resources will be made widely accessible to radiologists, medical physicists, radiographers, and other healthcare professionals, ensuring that advances in radiation protection and imaging optimisation continue to benefit patients well beyond the project’s duration.

The project unites 20 partners, from 12 EU Member States, including hospitals, universities, research institutions, patients’ organisations, and professional societies, ensuring a strong, multi-sector approach to improving imaging safety and quality for Europe’s youngest patients.

Being one of the professional societies involved, the European Society of Radiology (ESR) will support the project through its flagship initiative in radiation protection, EuroSafe Imaging, under whose umbrella the ESR led several successful European Commission-funded projects aimed at improving radiological quality and safety.

“RHYTHM reflects our collective responsibility to protect young patients and to give them access to the best that modern medical imaging can offer,” said Scientific Coordinator Prof. John Damilakis (University of Crete, GR). “By connecting hospitals across Europe and enabling data-driven benchmarking, RHYTHM sets new standards for how we understand and optimise radiological practice.”

“As Clinical Coordinator of the RHYTHM project, I believe this initiative is crucial for advancing the quality and safety of paediatric radiology across Europe”, added Clinical Coordinator Dr. Claudio Granata (Paediatric Institute Burlo Garofolo, IT). “I’m excited to work alongside an international multidisciplinary team to develop evidence-based practices, educational resources, and tools that will support long-term improvements in radiation protection. I look forward to seeing RHYTHM’s impact on paediatric imaging, fostering consistency, safety, and confidence in care for children and their families.”

Prof. Damilakis and Prof. Granata are members of the EuroSafe Imaging Steering Committee, chairing dedicated working groups on Clinical DRLs and Paediatric Imaging, respectively.

By combining scientific expertise, technological innovation, and a patient-centred perspective, RHYTHM will strengthen Europe’s capacity to deliver safe, effective, and equitable imaging services for children and young adults. The project’s results will contribute to the European Commission’s SAMIRA Action Plan and advance the long-term goal of improving radiation protection and healthcare quality across the EU.

RHYTHM is coordinated by the EIBIR. As an initiative established by the ESR to advance biomedical imaging research across Europe, EIBIR plays a central role in RHYTHM by leading project management, communication, and dissemination activities. Its expertise in coordinating large-scale, multi-institutional research projects ensures the effective implementation and visibility of RHYTHM’s objectives.

Within RHYTHM, the ESR will play a leading role in promoting safer imaging across Europe. It will contribute to the development and update of referral and clinical guidelines and disseminate educational materials to equip healthcare professionals with the latest knowledge on dose optimisation and justification. In addition, the ESR will lead and support communication and outreach campaigns aimed at both medical professionals and the public to raise awareness about radiation safety and appropriate imaging for young patients. Through its extensive European network, the ESR will ensure RHYTHM’s results are widely adopted and have a lasting impact beyond the project’s duration.

Contact information

office@eibir.org

More information on the project:

https://www.eibir.org/projects/rhythm/

Follow us on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/rhythm-eu-project/about/

RHYTHM is co-funded under the EU4Health Programme 2021–2027 under grant agreement no. 101232948. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Health and Digital Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

We are happy to announce that EIBIR will host seven dedicated sessions at the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) 2026, taking place from March 4–8, 2026, in Vienna and online via ESR Connect.

EIBIR Project-Related Sessions at ECR 2026

EIBIR 4 – Novel approaches for trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) in cancer diagnostics and treatment
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 13:00–14:30
Explore pioneering AI research from RadioVal, ODELIA, BreastSCan, and COMPASS-AI, focusing on ethical, explainable, and validated AI applications for cancer care.

EIBIR 6 – Assistive technologies for interventional radiologists: enhancing decision-making and workflow with AI-powered solutions
Wednesday, March 4, 2026 | 16:30–17:30
Find out how the SHERPA project is developing human-centred, AI-powered tools to support interventional radiologists, improving workflow, precision, and clinical outcomes.

EIBIR 8 – Transforming cardiovascular risk prediction with AI: from models to real-world impact
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 10:00–11:00
Learn how the AI-POD project is advancing AI-driven cardiovascular risk prediction, combining clinical insight, ethical perspectives, and real-world validation to bring AI from research to practice.

EIBIR 11 – Cancer Image Europe: a pan-European federated infrastructure for cancer images
Thursday, March 5, 2026 | 16:30–18:00
Discover the latest developments from EUCAIM and the Cancer Image Europe platform, including progress towards establishing a European Digital Infrastructure Consortium (EDIC) for cancer imaging data sharing and AI development.

EIBIR 13 – Strengthening the screening of lung cancer in Europe: key achievements, lessons learned, and legacy of the SOLACE project
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 09:30–11:00
Learn how the SOLACE project is shaping the future of lung cancer screening across Europe, breaking down barriers to access and ensuring sustainability and equity in early detection.

EIBIR 15 – Advancements in medical imaging technologies: photonics research
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 13:45–14:45
Discover breakthrough innovations from the HyperProbe and Med-IPUT projects, showcasing photonics-based imaging for neurosurgery and medical ultrasound, revolutionising precision imaging technologies.

EIBIR 16 – Improving quality and safety through collaborative EU-funded research and studies: the SAMIRA initiative
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 16:00–17:30
In collaboration with the European Commission and EuroSafe Imaging, this session highlights projects including RHYTHM, MARLIN, CARE, CLAUD-IT, and others driving excellence in radiation protection, safety, and quality assurance across Europe.

EIBIR will have a booth on Level 1 throughout the congress, showcasing the latest results from our EU-funded research projects and highlighting opportunities for collaboration and funding in biomedical imaging.

Join us at ECR 2026 to engage with Europe’s leading experts in imaging research and innovation — and to see how EIBIR-supported projects continue to shape the future of medical imaging. Stay tuned for more activities at the booth. More details — including speakers and session links — will be shared soon.

The AI-POD Project webinar, originally held on 7 October 2025, is now available to watch on YouTube. The session explored how artificial intelligence is transforming the prediction and prevention of obesity-related vascular diseases.

The webinar featured expert presentations on AI-powered risk prediction models, clinical decision support systems (CDSS), and citizen-facing health apps, highlighting practical applications of trustworthy, human-centred AI in preventive healthcare. Clinicians, researchers, digital health developers, and policy stakeholders gained insights into integrating these tools into clinical workflows to advance proactive cardiovascular care.

Speakers included experts from leading institutions across Europe, covering topics such as the AI-POD risk prediction algorithm, clinical decision support system, citizen health app, and human-centred AI design. The session concluded with a panel discussion on opportunities and challenges for integrating AI-POD into real-world clinical practice.

This event is particularly relevant for anyone interested in the intersection of AI, digital health, and preventive medicine.

Great news! The ECR 2026 abstract submission deadline has been extended. You now have until 5 October 2025, 23:59 CEST to submit your research for the ECR 2026 Poster Sessions, hosted by The European Institute for Biomedical Imaging Research (EIBIR).

Take this opportunity to present your work at the European Society of Radiology Congress (4–8 March 2026, Vienna). Selected posters may even be chosen for oral presentations, giving you the chance to showcase your research to a global audience of experts and peers.

Key topics include:

• AI in oncology
• Hybrid imaging
• Emerging technologies
• Integrated diagnostics
• Multidisciplinary research

📅 New Deadline: 5 October 2025, 23:59 CEST
🔗 Submit Your Abstract: Submit Now

Don’t miss your chance to be part of ECR2026 and share your research with the international radiology community!

EIBIR is pleased to highlight the joint EUCAIM & BreastSCan workshop at EUSOBI 2025, taking place tomorrow. The workshop focuses on integrating imaging data into the Cancer Image Europe platform.

The session will feature an in-depth technical demonstration of the platform and showcase the upcoming integration of breast cancer screening data from the BreastSCan project. The goal is to accelerate the development and validation of AI tools for breast cancer imaging, supporting earlier and more accurate diagnoses.

Event Details:

• Date: Thursday, 25 September 2025

• Time: 16:00 – 17:30

• Location: Meeting Room 6, P&J Live, Aberdeen

Speakers:

• Dr. Francesca Pia Caputo, University of Pisa

• Prof. Francesco Sardanelli, LILT

No pre-registration is required, but places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information, visit: Workshop Details

The European Commission is preparing the EU4Health Work Programme 2026 – the EU’s largest health funding instrument, supporting innovation, disease prevention, crisis preparedness, and the digital transformation of healthcare across Europe.

This public consultation is a key opportunity for the medical imaging, healthcare, and research communities to influence future EU health investments. The survey will help shape priorities in areas such as cancer prevention, AI in healthcare, digital health infrastructure, workforce development, and improved patient access.

As a leading stakeholder in EU health research, EIBIR strongly encourages all partners, researchers, clinicians, patient advocates, and industry collaborators to take part. Your input will help ensure that medical imaging, digital health, and patient-centred innovation remain central to Europe’s health strategy for the years ahead.

Deadline: 30 September 2025
Complete the survey here: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/EU4HealthSurveyFor2026
More information and background: Official Consultation Page

Together, we can help shape a healthier, more innovative Europe.

Exploring AI Innovations in Predicting and Preventing Obesity-Related Vascular Disease 

7 October 2025, 09:00 – 10:30 CEST / CME accredited / Register HERE!

This webinar will explore how artificial intelligence is revolutionising the prediction and prevention of obesity-related vascular diseases. The session will showcase key innovations from the AI-POD project, including AI-powered risk prediction, decision support tools, and citizen health apps. Designed for clinicians, researchers, developers, and policymakers, the webinar highlights practical applications of trustworthy, human-centred AI in preventive healthcare. Attendees will gain valuable insights into integrating these tools into clinical workflows to advance proactive cardiovascular care.

By the end of this webinar, participants will gain valuable insights into how AI is transforming healthcare delivery and disease prevention. This event is particularly relevant for clinicians, researchers, digital health developers, and policy stakeholders seeking to stay at the forefront of innovation in healthcare.

The webinar includes an in-depth look at AI-POD’s risk prediction algorithm, clinical decision support system, and citizen-facing health app. It also features expert insights on designing human-centred AI and integrating these tools into real-world clinical practice.

Programme

The session will offer attendees a comprehensive overview of AI-POD’s groundbreaking work through the following presentations:

09:00 – 09:05 | Welcome – Regina Beets-Tan, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands
09:05 – 09:10 | Trustworthy AI for a Healthier Future: The AI-POD Project – U. Attenberger, Medical University of Vienna, Austria
09:10 – 09:25 | Behind the Score: Developing the AI-POD Risk Prediction – G. Langs, University of Vienna, Austria
09:25 – 09:40 | Building Smarter Tools: AI-POD Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS) – J. Kirchhoff, medicalvalues GmbH, Germany
09:40 – 09:50 | The AI-POD Citizen App: Features and Functionalities – F. Catarinella, Brightfish B.V, Netherlands.
09:50 – 10:05 | From Prediction to Prevention: How AI-POD Supports Better Vascular Risk Management – S. Al-Basri, BG University Hospital Bergmannsheil Bochum, Germany
10:05 – 10:15 | Human-Centred AI: A Stakeholder Perspective on AI for Imaging-Based Prediction of Obesity-Related Vascular Diseases – E. Van Steijvoort, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Belgium
10:15 – 10:30 | Panel Discussion: Integrating AI-POD into the Clinical Workflow: Opportunities and Challenges – R. Beets Tan, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Netherlands

This event is ideal for clinicians, researchers, digital health developers, and policy stakeholders interested in how AI is reshaping healthcare delivery and disease prevention.