During surgery, the surgeon can merely rely on visual inspection. NLITESurgery aims to investigate novel intraoperative imaging applications based on time-domain fluorescence lifetime imaging (tdFLI) that will surpass the more traditional fluorescence guided surgery field by increasing image specificity and providing new information on (patho)physiological processes. More specifically, we propose to conceive a unique video-rate tdFLI system that will boost the applications of the clinically available fluorescent dye ICG, or that can be used in combination with dedicated nanobody-based targeted fluorescent tracers. Ultimately, this will improve surgical accuracy, influence decision-making on a per patient basis and reduce surgically- induced side effects.

To this end, a multidisciplinary consortium composed of surgeons, medical scientists, imaging specialists, engineers, and chemists was established. The consortium will be headed by Prof. Lahoutte and brings together experts with international reputation in electronic engineering of fluorescence cameras (lifetime sensing by Prof. Kuijk and Prof. Ingelberts, ETRO, VUB and backside illumination processing by imec with Dr. Sabuncuoglu Tezcan), fluorescent tracer development (Prof. Hernot, ICMI, VUB; Prof. van Leeuwen, LUMC, NL) and oncologic surgery (Prof. De Rooster, Small Animal Surgery, UGent; Prof. De Sutter, Gynaecology, UZBrussel). The consortium will be advised by experts in precision surgery, surgical robots, cGMP production of biologicals, sensor development and visualization solutions.