ScanNanoTreat – Radically New Cancer Therapy Powered by Nanotechnology & Photonics
A new European innovation initiative transforming how solid tumours are diagnosed and treated
ScanNanoTreat is an EIC Transition project developing a breakthrough theranostic platform that combines next-generation Spectral Photon Counting CT (SPCCT) with X-ray-activated Photodynamic Therapy (X-PDT). This integrated system is engineered to image and treat solid tumours in a single workflow, bringing unprecedented speed, precision, and safety to cancer care.
Built on major advances in photonics, nanotechnology, and medical imaging, ScanNanoTreat focuses first on breast and pancreatic cancers, two tumour types with pressing clinical needs and high global burden.
The Challenge
Cancer is one of Europe’s most urgent healthcare challenges:
- Annual economic impact: €199 billion
- Expected increase in cases by 2040: +60%
- Current treatment pathways remain slow, costly, and burdensome for patients and hospitals.
Radiotherapy and diagnostic imaging are typically performed sequentially, requiring multiple visits, high radiation doses, long delays, and significant operational cost.
There is a need for better overall outcomes in cancer treatment, especially for pancreatic cancer, for which no effective therapeutic strategy currently exists
Our solution
A first-of-its-kind system enabling simultaneous imaging and therapy
ScanNanoTreat integrates:
- Spectral Photon Counting CT (SPCCT)
Delivering high-resolution, low-energy imaging with unprecedented material differentiation. - X-ray-activated Photodynamic Therapy (X-PDT)
Triggered by innovative gadolinium-based nanoprobes, enabling targeted, minimally invasive tumour damage.
Together, this platform aims to:
- Reduce radiation dose by more than 30%
- Cut treatment costs by up to 40%
- Dramatically shorten the diagnosis-to-treatment cycle
- Improve outcomes for patients
Why ScanNanoTreat Matters
This project directly addresses critical European healthcare needs:
- More precise detection
- Safer therapy with lower radiation exposure
- Reduced treatment burden on hospitals
- Lower costs for national health systems
- Strong alignment with EU strategic autonomy in MedTech
It represents a bold step toward a future where imaging and therapy are seamlessly integrated — providing patients with faster, safer, and more effective cancer treatment.
Commercial Vision
The project targets rapid maturation of the technology from TRL 3 to TRL 5, enabling pre-clinical validation and preparation for clinical trials by 2027.
The consortium aims to secure 10–17% of the projected €493M European theranostics market by 2032, representing €35–60M in annual revenue by 2035.
A dedicated spin-off company will be created to bring the system to market, supported by:
- Strong IP and exploitation planning
- Regulatory pathway development
- Industrial partnerships across the imaging and therapy ecosystem
- Integration into future value-based cancer care models
