On Wednesday, 10 June 2026, the Spectra-BREAST consortium gathered in Milan for an in-person project meeting marking Month 18 of the project.
The meeting brought together around 15 participants from across the consortium, including senior researchers, technical teams, as well as Master’s and PhD students who are actively contributing to the project’s scientific and technological development. The in-person format provided an important opportunity to review progress, align next steps, and strengthen collaboration across the different project work packages.
Month 18 represents a key transition point for Spectra-BREAST. During the first phase of the project, the consortium focused on the development of the main technological building blocks: 1) the hyperspectral imaging system; 2) the fiber-optic Raman spectroscopy technology; 3) the first AI-based models, and 4) the acquisition architecture and protocols. This phase also included the preparation of guidelines for the use of the Spectra-BREAST system.
In line with the project plan, Month 18 coincides with the delivery of five important project deliverables and the achievement of three key technical milestones related to the hyperspectral camera system, the Raman spectroscopy technology, and the baseline AI algorithms for tumor assessment.
The project is now entering a new and exciting phase: the integration of the hardware components, AI models, software, and clinical protocols into a multimodal system. The main components have recently been delivered to the ICS Maugeri clinical site, where the consortium will move forward with integration and testing activities.
With two and a half years still ahead, the results achieved so far are already very promising. Spectra-BREAST continues to work toward its ambitious goal: developing a multimodal intraoperative tool combining Hyperspectral Imaging, Raman Spectroscopy, and AI to support surgeons during breast-conserving surgery by providing accurate and actionable information on tumor resection margins.
