The European Union has awarded Michelson Diagnostics a €2.26 million Seventh Framework Programme grant to enhance the company’s OCT technology and research. The grant will further develop Michelson’s work in diagnosing malignant melanoma using its VivoSight scanner and multibeam OCT technology. The project, called Automatic Detection of Vascular Networks for Cancer Evaluation (ADVANCE), will assess how VivoSight and OCT imaging scanners can be used to assess melanomas and their aggressiveness quickly and efficiently. Clinicians can already use VivoSight on patients to noninvasively view through layers of skin in great detail and in real time. The system will obtain high-resolution images of melanoma tumors, detect vessels that supply them, and display 3-D maps of the surrounding vessels. Early detection of these abnormal vessel patterns could revolutionize melanoma detection and treatment, according to the company, as it could reduce the number of unnecessary early-stage invasive procedures. Enhanced efficiency can also allow for urgent treatment sooner. Michelson is partnering with EG Technology of Cambridge, England, and Technology Partnership doo of Belgrade, Serbia, as well as several clinicians in Europe, on various aspects of the project. Michelson said that the VivoSight technology could potentially have other clinical applications, such as identification and monitoring of inflammation, and in wound healing. For more information, visit: www.michelsondiagnostics.com