K-edge imaging for cOLOR Spectral Photon-Counting

Objective

Spectral photon-counting CT (SPCCT) and Color K-edge imaging represent a breakthrough in medical imaging, enabling simultaneous acquisition of morphological, functional, and molecular information in a single scan. This innovation has the potential to transform the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular, oncologic, and pulmonary diseases. However, its impact is currently limited by the absence of dedicated software for visualization, post-processing, and biomarker extraction. Clinicians and researchers must rely on fragmented solutions—vendor-specific applications restricted to basic visualization, open-source platforms lacking robustness, or bespoke in-house code that cannot be scaled or standardized. Without a user-friendly, vendor-neutral, clinically oriented solution, the adoption of Color K-edge imaging will remain slow and its full promise underexploited. This Proof of Concept project will address this gap by developing KOLOR viewer, the first dedicated platform for SPCCT and K-edge imaging. The software will integrate modules for 3D visualization, segmentation, multimodality fusion and quantitative analysis of biomarkers such as perfusion, ventilation, inflammation and oncologic parameters. Additional modules will support structured reporting and aid-to-diagnosis, providing reproducible metrics to complement radiologists’ assessments. Vendor neutrality will ensure interoperability across manufacturers and adaptability for both experimental and clinically approved contrast agents. Over 18 months, the project will deliver a validated prototype (TRL 3-4), supported by peer evaluation with radiologists and end-user feedback from industrial stakeholders such as Philips Healthcare, Dedalus, and CERTIS Therapeutics. Complemented by market and regulatory analyses and guided by a clear IP strategy, the project will demonstrate technical feasibility while establishing the commercial and translational potential of the solution.