POROUS is funded by the European Union and the state of Brandenburg.

POROUS projects are co-funded by the European Union.

POROUS is funded by the EU as part of the EIC Accelerator Program. The European Innovation Council (EIC) was founded by the European Commission in 2021. Its mission is to identify, develop and disseminate breakthrough technologies and innovations.

POROUS is funded by the Brandenburg Innovation Specialists program with funds from the European Union and the State of Brandenburg. The position of Digital Systems & Web Development Specialist provides key support for the digital transformation in the field of clinical trials and research data management. The focus is on developing innovative web technologies to optimize clinical processes, IT security, and the automation of data processing and analysis.

The project “AI-based ultrasound diagnostics for the analysis of the microstructure of bone and muscle” develops AI-based ultrasound methods for the quantitative analysis of bone and muscle microstructure. It is funded by the European Union (EFRE) and the State of Brandenburg as part of the ProFIT funding programme. The objective is to significantly improve tissue quality assessment, enabling more precise and earlier medical diagnoses. The project generates new scientific insights and establishes a technological foundation for future clinical applications.

As part of the EU-co-financed Big Digital project, POROUS GmbH is receiving funding for introduction of a quality-compliant digital platform for CRM and supplier management. The aim is to optimize work processes while complying with the highest IT security, data protection, and QM standards.

POROUS is funded by the BMFTR for the POROUS-BMD2 study.
The aim of the study project is the clinical validation of a novel ultrasound-based method for determining surrogate bone mineral density and cortical bone microstructure, in order to establish a reliable, non-invasive approach for assessing bone health in patients with osteoporosis and to compare the measurements with established techniques such as DXA.

Osteoporosis: A global health challenge

Osteoporosis accounts for more days in the hospital than breast cancer, heart attack and diabetes together. Fractures due to osteoporosis are associated with a substantial individual burden, including decreased quality of life, increased morbidity, and mortality, as well as high socioeconomic costs. In the US and Europe alone, fracture-related costs are estimated at approximately €120 billion per year. These numbers are expected to grow in aging societies, e.g. in the US alone, costs are projected to rise to $95 billion by 2040.

200M+

people affected by osteoporosis worldwide

3 sec

between osteoporotic fractures, around the clock

€120B

fracture-related costs per year in the US and Europe

Source: Willers et al. (2022)

Early detection is vital

Osteoporosis often goes undiagnosed until it is too late. Current measurement methods cannot detect the onset of osteoporosis, but rather approximate the bone-loss associated relative fracture risk, typically at advanced stages of the disease.

The highest fracture incidence is not seen in people diagnosed with osteoporosis, but in those diagnosed as healthy or osteopenic. This makes osteoporosis one of the most underdiagnosed diseases in the western world. Early detection technology to close this clinical gap was not available, until today.

Development of osteoporosis

Healthy bone

Bone growth and resorption in balance

Disbalanced remodelling

Pore size ↗
Trabecular network ↘
Cortical thickness ↘

Compromised architecture

Pore size ↗↗
Trabecular network ↘
Cortical thickness ↘↘

Images of the tibia. As osteoporosis is a systemic disease, changes can occur at all skeletal sites.

Osteoporotic fractures affect millions

Osteoporosis is a skeletal disorder characterized by reduced bone mass and deteriorated microstructure, resulting in an increased risk of fractures. Fractures significantly raise the risk of morbidity and mortality and reduce patients’ quality of life. Yet osteoporosis is still one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated diseases.

Underestimated

1 in 3 women
& 1 in 6 men

aged 50+ will suffer an osteoporotic fracture.

Underdiagnosed

Up to

82% of patients

who had osteoporotic fractures are not identified by standard bone mineral density (BMD) testing.

Undertreated

Up to

91% of women

aged 70+ at increased fracture risk are not treated.

Sources: Kanis et al. (2021); Siris et al. (2004); McClovsky et al. (2022)

3D microstructure analysis of cortical bone

Today’s worldwide osteoporosis crisis demands a simple, precise and radiation-free diagnostic method. Early detection enables individual measures for those in need, to prevent fractures. Until now, no radiation-free technology has been able to assess bone properties at a level of detail like POROUS.

The POROUS solution uses 3D quantitative ultrasound (QUS) and can, for the first time, measure not only cortical thickness but also pore size, pore size distribution and parameters indicating viscoelasticity in peripheral human cortical bone.

POROUS is

Safe

Robust ultrasound measurement with no X-ray radiation.

Accurate

3D ultrasound measurement of the cortical bone, down to the level of pore size distribution.

Cost-effective

Ultrasound offers a strong balance between costs and clinical benefit.

See POROUS in action

The POROUS core team

Julia Eschenbrenner

Chief Executive Officer

Jonas Massmann

Chief Technology Officer

Konstantin Hemmelrath

Chief Financial Officer

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