Seeking skin images of skin types Fitzpatrick IV-VI for research purposes for a potential EIC accelerator project

Short summary An Austrian-based medical devices manufacturer specialised in medical software seeks partners for a project which addresses inequality and promotes diversity. Specifically, macro images of (preferably diagnosed) skin lesions of individuals with Fitzpatrick IV-VI skin types are sought. The partner company size is not important. Partners are expected to provide either pre-existing or newly collected photos meeting specific requirements. Research cooperation leading to an EIC project is the goal.

Full description The Austrian company is a manufacturer of medical devices, complying with an ISO 13485 certified quality management system, which develops MDR (Medical Devices Regulation) IIa (medium risk) certified products. The company strongly believes in making medical devices for early detection accessible to a wider range of individuals. However, there is a current issue in the field of dermatology, where the diagnosis of black skin cancer in dark populations is proving to be a challenge. For this reason, collaborative partners are sought to conduct a study in this area. For this research macro photographs of persons with Fitzpatrick IV-VI skin types, ideally with diagnosed lesions are sought. Ideally, the partners would be solely responsible for providing the images – either free of charge or for a fee. If the partner is unable to procure suitable images, but can gain access to or collect such images, they may proceed with the necessary procedures to obtain them. In this case, the partner can be supported financially. The Austrian company will take care of the usage of the images and no further work will be required by the partner. If the partner is willing to take on a more active role in the project, they may also assist in conducting the study. Exact details regarding collaboration in this instance can be decided on a case-by-case basis. The primary responsibility of the partner is to provide macro images of skin lesions from individuals with skin types Fitzpatrick IV-VI. The success of the project is contingent upon obtaining a minimum of 200 distinct images of skin lesions, including both benign and malignant cases. A minimum resolution of 1200x1200 pixel is required and it is crucial that the images are sharp and not distorted. While it is preferable for the cases to be diagnosed or histologically confirmed, this is not essential. As previously mentioned, if the requisite images are not readily available, the Austrian company is willing to provide financial assistance to the partner in order to facilitate the collection process, so that the necessary infrastructure and resources for collecting the desired images can be made available to the partner. In all cases, the images must be presented in an anonymised form to prevent any possibility of tracing them back to their original source. It is of utmost importance to uphold the principles of explicit consent and legal compliance when capturing images of individuals. Therefore, it is essential to ensure that when capturing images, the explicit consent of the individual concerned has been obtained and to ensure that the recording of the images is done in a legally permissible manner. This not only guarantees compliance with relevant legal provisions but also protects the privacy and personal rights of the individual concerned. In light of the increasing sensitivity towards data protection issues, it is crucial to maintain a high level of care and legal compliance in the capture and use of images. It must be ensured that all images provided and used have been obtained in a responsible, lawful and ethical manner. The company has already initiated the process of working with local authorities and universities, along with a team of medical and technical experts to conduct this study. It wishes to work together with partners in a research cooperation regarding image collection as described above and to potentially apply for EIC funding.

Advantages and innovations - addresses inequality in black skin cancer diagnosis - promotes diversity in equal level of dermatology care - observance of all medical regulations, ethical considerations and data protection issues - high degree of flexibility regarding collaboration options
Contact / source: NEXT EEN Widgets (europa.eu)