Beyond operating rooms and hospital laboratories, medical innovation is also being built in start-ups. In the Lorraine region, several young companies are developing technologies or therapeutic approaches closely linked to healthcare establishments, especially the Nancy University Hospital. Robots, artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and cellular therapies are all avenues being explored to improve diagnostics, treatments, and the patient experience. Here is an overview of some local initiatives.
Robots for nuclear medicine
Based in Nancy, the start-up Sysark is developing robots capable of preparing radioactive tracers used in certain nuclear medicine exams. This technology, developed in collaboration with hospital teams, aims to secure the preparation of these substances while limiting healthcare professionals’ exposure to radiation. Already deployed in several French establishments, this innovation illustrates the new synergies between technological research and hospital medicine.
Virtual reality to alleviate pain
Another example of innovation is Mist Studio, a company founded in 2019 in Villers-lès-Nancy. They have designed Auroria, a virtual reality device to reduce the pain and anxiety of patients during certain treatments, especially in children. Through an immersive headset, patients are immersed in an interactive world that distracts their attention during procedures. Initial tests at the Brabois Children’s Hospital (Nancy University Hospital) have shown encouraging effects on pain perception. The start-up had provided its technology for free to hospital services that treated victims of the Crans-Montana fire.
AI for better detection
In Nancy, the start-up Prostperia is leveraging artificial intelligence to improve the detection of prostate cancer. Their tool Prostia combines the results of the PSA blood test with a detailed medical questionnaire, analyzed by an algorithm. The clinical trial, about to conclude, was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Pascal Eschwäge, head of the urology department at Nancy University Hospital. This approach helps refine risk assessment and reduce false positives, aiming to guide patients more accurately towards necessary examinations.
The promises of cellular therapies
On the other hand, the start-up StemInov focuses on cellular therapies, a rapidly growing field in biomedical research. Stemming from collaborations with the University of Lorraine and Nancy University Hospital, the company is developing solutions based on stem cells, particularly for treating certain inflammatory diseases. They are also working on establishing a bioproduction platform to facilitate the manufacturing of these cells on a larger scale and support the development of new therapies.
