January 29, 2007, Yokneam, Israel--Given Imaging will lead a consortium that will develop an integrated imaging-biosensing system to screen for cancer of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, utilizing the company's "PillCam" device. The "Nano-based capsule-Endoscopy with Molecular Imaging and Optical biopsy" (NEMO) project is part of the European Commission's of the Sixth EU Framework Program of Research and Technological Development.
In addition to Given Imaging, the consortium includes Zarlink Semiconductor (Sweden and UK), Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Israelitic Hospital and Indivumed (Germany), Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine (London, England), ITC-irst Research Institute (Italy), The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Novamed and Ernst &Young (Israel). The NEMO Group will invest EUR 4.7 million (US$6.1 million) over the next three years, of which the European Commission will contribute EUR 2.8 million (US$3.6 million).
The objective of the NEMO project is to increase patient compliance with currently recommended screening guidelines by developing an advanced cancer screening system that is patient-friendly, highly sensitive and specific for early detection of cancer. To achieve this NEMO will converge optical technologies with nanotechnologies, biosensing and maneuvering technologies to create a unique PillCam capsule endoscope capable of secretion analysis and the detection of marked and deep tissue disorders. The consortium believes the combination of the image and molecular analysis to mark the tumor may provide a novel and effective medical device for mass screening for GI cancer.