BrainMap

Tudor Eliade Ciuleanu

Professor

- UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU"

Other affiliations

professor - INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA (Romania)

Researcher

Expertise & keywords

Non-Invasive Intelligent Systems for Colorectal Cancer Diagnosis and Prognosis Based on Circulating miRNA Integrated in the Clinical Workflow Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-1959 2014 - 2017

Role in this project: Partner team leader

Coordinating institution: SOLUTIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS SAIA

Project partners: SOLUTIONS OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE APPLICATIONS SAIA (RO); UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca (RO); RIVEL MARKET SRL (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca (RO)

Project website: http://rivel.ro/intelcor/

Abstract:

The INTELCOR project will develop the best non-invasive colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis, early detection, differential diagnosis (with benign adenoma), and progression prediction tests. The last two tests will be developed for the first time. To be considered the best, the tests should be the most accurate (95%-100%), robust, and transparent. The tests are based on circulating microRNA (non-invasive) and advanced artificial intelligence methods (the highest robust accuracy). They will be also white-box or transparent models, discovered from microarray data, and their relationship with the hallmarks of cancer will be revealed, using knowledge mining in various knowledge bases. These tests will take as inputs the levels of circulating microRNA biomarkers discovered by us, and will output a diagnosis - normal, CRC, or adenoma - or a prognosis - progressive or non-progressive CRC. To transform these molecular and cellular models into real clinical decision support (intelligent) systems, they will be embedded in an automated CRC clinical workflow, created for the first time. The tests will be also implemented as Software as a Service (SaaS) and in hardware (via FPGA), to further increase their commercial potential. This will be done for the first time for a medical test. INTELCOR is a highly interdisciplinary project. Thus, UMF Cluj (P1) will enroll and investigate the CRC patients clinically, pathologically, imagistic, and will produce the corresponding microarray data. SAIA (CO) will develop a bioinformatics data analysis workflow and use it to develop the tests, which will be functionally analyzed together with P1. Rivel Market (P2) will develop and implement a top level CRC Electronic Medical Records for data integration, and the first automated CRC clinical workflow for tests integration into clinical practice. They will also implement the tests as software packages, as SaaS, and in hardware, for commercial reasons. As validation on large cohort of patients is known to improve the credibility and the marketability of omics tests, more data will be acquired from specialized companies. All available data will be integrated by CO in a multicenter database and a meta-analysis will be performed. As in any project combining high throughput data with artificial intelligence, the number of microarray samples and the computational power are important, but costly. INTELCOR is carefully designed to satisfy the financial and time constraints and reach not only the best published results, but also the best CRC omics tests on the market, by properly combining the human resources and facilities of the 3 partners with the project budget.

Developing a method for real-time detection and isolation of circulating tumor cells from the bloodstream of cancer patients by means of image processing and pattern recognition Call name: Joint Applied Research Projects - PCCA 2013 - call
PN-II-PT-PCCA-2013-4-2289 2014 - 2017

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca (RO); UNIVERSITATEA TEHNICA DIN CLUJ - NAPOCA (RO); DATRONIX COMPUTER S.R.L. (RO)

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE (U.M.F) Cluj-Napoca (RO)

Project website: http://ctcvideoscope.utcluj.ro

Abstract:

Cancer is a major public health problem both in Western countries and in Romania. In general, cancer related death is caused by the occurrence of metastasis. The metastatic process begins with the migration of malignant cells from the primary tumor, followed by penetration into the circulation and their spread in the body. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs), the 'leukemic phase' of solid tumors, are the most promising tumor marker of the moment. They correlate with overall survival and disease free survival, allowing early detection of metastatic process, monitoring of disease progression and of treatment response. In addition, being the equivalent of a "liquid biopsy", CTCs offer the promise of personalized therapy based on their biomolecular analysis. CTC identification is a difficult task and there is no ideal method of detection yet. Most current methods have a low sensitivity because they analyze only a small sample of circulating blood. Oncology practice requires a sensitive method, allowing continuous monitoring over extended periods of time and which can be repeated frequently.

The current project aims to develop an automatic method for continuous real-time detection and isolation of CTCs from the bloodstream of cancer patients, based on their distinctive morphological characteristics, after an original idea proposed by the project director. The method is inspired by the automated video surveillance systems of the highway traffic. Thus, one can imagine a portable, battery powered device, for continuous CTC monitoring over long periods of time, in conditions of total comfort for the patient (even at home). In principle, blood is continuously aspirated from the patient through a two-way intravenous catheter, is passed through the analysis device and then is re-injected through the same catheter. Inside the machine, the blood is gently pumped in a laminar flow at a constant speed through a transparent chamber-slide mounted in a phase contrast microscope. It allows visualization of live, unstained blood cells. Microscopic images, shot with a camera attached to the microscope, are transmitted to the computer system. This, by means of image analysis and pattern recognition will identify the CTC in real time based on distinct morphology, acting a downstream switch that diverts for a moment the blood flow towards one container, where the cell is stored for later analysis. The remaining blood flow, without CTCs, is re-injected into the patient.

The main goal of this project is to offer a “proof of concept” of this new method of detection, while the developpment of the commercial variant of the device will be relegated to a future project (INNOVATION). Specifically, we will realize an experimental model to test in vitro blood samples from healthy volunteers, artificially spiked with malignant cells from cell culture. We will use commercial cell lines of breast, colon and prostate cancer, but we will also run real samples from patients with the same type of cancer. The method will be validated by comparative testing of similar blood samples with other well established methods. In addition, the viability of isolated CTCs will be tested by in vitro cultivation and by application of molecular biology techniques for evidence of specific mutations by RT-PCR, sequencing, in situ hybridization or immunocytochemistry.

The current project capitalize on experience and knowledge about CTCs acquired during the Project IDEAS PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0753, directed by Prof. T.E. Ciuleanu from Iuliu Hatieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca. These strenghts, complemented with expertise in automated detection of Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, that develops the software, and with engineering capabilities of DATRONIX company, that builds the experimental model, will ensure the successful achievement of project objectives.

Early detection of post-therapeutic relapses of colorectal adenocarcinoma by tumoral and immunological markers follow-up in peripheral blood Call name: Exploratory Research Projects - PCE-2011 call
PN-II-ID-PCE-2011-3-0753 2011 - 2016

Role in this project: Project coordinator

Coordinating institution: Institutul Oncologic „Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuţă”

Project partners: Institutul Oncologic „Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuţă” (RO)

Affiliation: Institutul Oncologic „Prof. Dr. I. Chiricuţă” (RO)

Project website: http://srrom.ro/277/index277.html

Abstract:

The aim of our study is to identify novel markers with prognostic value for post-therapeutic relapses of colorectal adenocarcinoma (CRC). Current guidelines recommend the carcinoembryonic antigen, colonoscopy and computed-tomography for the follow-up of CRC. Still, 80% of the patients relapse in the first two years after initial treatment and the majority are detected in a symptomatic phase, having an unfavorable outcome. Our study rallies to the numerous efforts oriented toward optimizing the follow-up procedures in CRC. We are focusing on circulating tumor cells (CTC) and immunological changes detectable in the peripheral blood of patients with CRC progression. We intend to enroll 50 patients diagnosed with CRC, disease-free after surgery with curative intent. We will follow them according to current guidelines for a median period of 24 months. At baseline and every 3 months during follow-up period we will collect peripheral blood for detection of CTC, T-cell subsets, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, as well as serum markers like transthyretin, serum alfa-enolase and macrophage migration inhibitory factor. These variables, obtained by minimal invasive procedures, will be correlated with data regarding the primary tumor. We intend to genotype the tumor by RNA microarray and Real-Time PCR and to phenotype it by immunohistochemistry. The identified biomarkers will be afterwards proposed for testing in a new prospective clinical study.

Detection and Treatment of Metastatic Chemoresistant Circulating Tumor Cells using Bioconjugated Noble-Metal Nanoparticles Call name: Postdoctoral Research Projects - PD-2012 call
PN-II-RU-PD-2012-3-0111 2013 - 2015

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPO

Project partners: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPO (RO)

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPO (RO)

Project website: https://sites.google.com/site/nanodetctc/

Abstract:

The project entitled Detection and Treatment of Metastatic Chemoresistant Circulating Tumor Cells using Bioconjugated Noble-Metal Nanoparticles (acronym NanoDetCTC) situated at the interface between nanotechnologies (nanomaterials fabrication, photoinduced processes) and biomedical sciences (cancer cell identification and capture, photo-induced apoptosis of cancerous cells) proposes: 1) to develop an innovative method for the in vitro detection, imaging, and treatment of a certain type of cancer cells (CTCs) using spectroscopic labeled noble-metal nanoparticles; 2) to investigate the photo-physical processes and mechanisms of photoinduced cellular death using metallic nanoparticles. Noble-metal nanoparticles (Au/Ag) of desired optical properties (enhanced light absorption and scattering, efficient amplification of the local electromagnetic field) will be synthesized and labeled with spectroscopic-encoded molecules. The optical/plasmonic properties and surface-enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS) efficiency will be investigated in order to optimize these nanoparticle-labels. As high specificity is another mandatory requirement of CTCs detection, the nanoparticles will be targeted with specific antibodies and the interaction of such nanomaterials with the investigated cells and the biological effects that might occur will be studied. Finally, the particles ability to inhibit proliferation or to induce cellular death by photoactivation using visible and NIR lasers will be evaluated.

Identification of transcriptomic molecular profiles in advanced cervical cancer through functional genomics studies Call name:
42-160/2008 2008 - 2011

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA

Project partners: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA ()

Project website:

Abstract:

Detection in the subclinical stage of chemo cardiotoxicity and radiotherapy in cancer patients based on the implementation of the cardiotoxicity score, in order to prevent and treat early Call name:
2008 - 2011

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA

Project partners: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA ()

Project website:

Abstract:

SIDEF Project Call name:
2007 - 2010

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU"

Project partners: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU" ()

Affiliation: UNIVERSITATEA DE MEDICINA SI FARMACIE "IULIU HATIEGANU" ()

Project website:

Abstract:

Prediction of the evolution and estimation of the response to treatment of malignant tumors, by morphological and hemodynamic modeling, using imaging, mathematical and artificial intelligence techniques Call name:
2006 - 2008

Role in this project: Key expert

Coordinating institution: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA

Project partners: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA ()

Affiliation: INSTITUTUL ONCOLOGIC PROF.DR.I.CHIRICUTA CLUJ-NAPOCA ()

Project website:

Abstract:

FILE DESCRIPTION	DOCUMENT
List of research grants as project coordinator or partner team leader
Significant R&D projects for enterprises, as project manager
R&D activities in enterprises
Peer-review activity for international programs/projects