The collaboration with Siemens Healthineers

An extensive program has been set up together with Siemens Healthineers in which structural, scientific research is being conducted into promising procedures. We spoke with Siemens Healthineers about our partnership.

What makes MITeC unique?

MITeC is unique in Europe for its combination of technological development and determination of clinical relevance through evidence-based research. It is a field lab where doctors, companies and researchers can develop new procedures and techniques. MITeC not only provides facilities, but a special research methodology, with which the added value of new technology or treatment methods can be determined at an early stage. Innovations that can be tested for their potential to actually contribute to better and more affordable care. The design phase of the interior was unique as well. A test set-up of the ORs was set up with customized tailor-made operating tables, computer screens and two life-size tailor-made inflatable imaging systems. Changing scenarios were reenacted in a team and it was examined what the best setup was for the practice.

What is the added value of your collaboration with MITeC?

The continued development of existing and new imaging equipment is not possible without close collaboration with doctors, researchers and technical physicians. They see opportunities to increase the quality of minimally invasive procedures and shorten the duration of treatment. Based on their wishes, we implement technological improvements and prepare them for practice.

MITeC performs a broad spectrum of clinical research projects with the goal of improving treatment precision and effectiveness. Clinical and research competences of the entire MITeC team provides a valuable platform for exchange of the new ideas and innovative concepts. Especially the deep knowledge in the field of evidence-based medicine and health technology assessment drives research in a way that benefits not only patients but the healthcare delivery system in general. In addition, their expertise in translation research, in for example MR guided prostate interventions, makes MITeC unique.

How can MITeC (and our collaboration) contribute to developments in healthcare in the future?

Partnerships with excellent collaboration sites such as MITeC supports Siemens Healthineers not only to develop, to test and to validate our new solutions for minimally invasive image guided interventions in the clinical environment, but also to evaluate its success rate from the clinical and economical point of view in the earliest stages of development. Together we building the components in support of the ultimate goal of MITeC : “one day surgery for oncology patients”.

We are proud of the inspiring collaboration with Prof. Maroeska Rovers and Prof. Jurgen Fütterer and their team. They bring concrete, demonstrable improvements in minimally invasive treatments, as well as the shortening of care processes. Patients can be treated faster and more effectively and therefore rehabilitate better. In addition, the health technology assessments ensure that the new procedures and techniques are more cost-efficient than the existing ones. In this way we keep high-quality care affordable now and in the future.

Kees Smaling, managing director of Siemens Healthineers
Sjaak van der Pouw, director Innovation at Siemens Healthineers
Rebecca Fahrig, vice president Innovation Advanced Therapies at Siemens Healthineers
Arne Hengerer, head MRI Guided Therapies at Siemens Healthineers