MDS-RIGHT · Project

Better Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions for Elderly Blood Cancer Patients

healthTestedTRL 4Thin data (2/5)

Imagine your elderly parent gets told they have a blood disorder called MDS — a type of bone marrow cancer that mainly hits older people and causes severe anemia. Right now, doctors often struggle to diagnose it correctly or pick the best treatment. This project built a Europe-wide database of 1,600 real patients across 16 countries to figure out which treatments actually work best, developed new genetic tests that catch the disease earlier with less invasive methods, and created prediction tools so doctors can tailor care to each patient instead of guessing.

By the numbers

1,600

MDS patients in the European registry

EU countries contributing patient data

consortium partners

countries represented in the consortium

total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Myelodysplastic syndromes are chronic bone marrow cancers that primarily affect elderly people, causing severe anemia and significantly reducing quality of life. With Europe's aging population, the number of cases is growing — and many are being missed because current diagnostic methods are invasive and the condition is often confused with general 'anemia of the elderly.' Healthcare systems need better, less invasive diagnostics and evidence-based treatment guidance to manage costs and improve patient outcomes.

The solution

What was built

The project produced new genetic signatures for less invasive MDS diagnosis in older patients, early treatment response indicators, quality-of-life prediction models, a list of newly identified genetic defects for drug development targets, and evidence-based guidelines — all validated through a 1,600-patient registry across 16 EU countries.

Audience

Who needs this

In vitro diagnostics companies developing hematology screening panelsPharma companies targeting blood cancers and hematological malignanciesClinical decision support software vendors for oncology/hematologyHealth technology assessment agencies evaluating MDS treatmentsHospital laboratory networks upgrading elderly patient screening

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Diagnostics & Medical Devices

mid-size

Target: In vitro diagnostics companies developing blood cancer screening panels

If you are a diagnostics company looking to expand your hematology test portfolio — this project identified new specific genetic signatures that support minimal diagnostic criteria for MDS in older individuals. These validated biomarkers from a 1,600-patient registry across 16 EU countries could be incorporated into your existing diagnostic platforms, opening a growing market segment as the elderly population increases.

Pharmaceutical & Biotech

enterprise

Target: Pharma companies developing treatments for hematological malignancies

If you are a pharma company working on blood cancer therapies — this project delivered a list of newly identified genetic defects that support development of novel drugs, plus early treatment response indicators. With validated data from 1,600 patients, you get evidence-based targets for drug development and companion diagnostics in the MDS space.

Health Technology & Digital Health

SME

Target: Clinical decision support software companies

If you are a health IT company building clinical decision tools — this project developed prediction functions for health-related quality of life and treatment response models validated across 16 EU countries. These algorithms could be integrated into your clinical workflow software to help hematologists make personalized treatment decisions for MDS patients.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or access these diagnostic tools and datasets?

Based on available project data, specific licensing terms are not publicly disclosed. The project was coordinated by Radboud University (Netherlands) within a 16-partner academic consortium. Any commercial licensing of genetic signatures or prediction models would need to be negotiated directly with the coordinator.

Can these diagnostic methods and prediction tools scale to industrial use?

The prediction functions and genetic signatures were validated using a registry of 1,600 patients across 16 EU countries, which provides a solid clinical evidence base. Scaling to commercial diagnostic products would require regulatory approval (CE-IVD marking) and integration into existing laboratory workflows.

What is the IP situation — who owns the genetic markers and prediction models?

The project was funded as a Research and Innovation Action (RIA), meaning IP is typically retained by the consortium partners. With 9 universities and 5 research organizations involved, IP rights are likely shared among academic partners. Specific licensing arrangements would need to be discussed with the coordinator at Radboud University.

Are these findings accepted by medical regulators and guideline bodies?

The project explicitly aimed to produce improved, evidence-based guidelines supporting the regulatory process. The deliverables include early treatment response indicators and new diagnostic criteria. Adoption into formal clinical guidelines would depend on national health authorities in each EU member state.

How long before these results could be embedded into commercial products?

The project ran from 2015 to 2020 and produced 34 deliverables including validated genetic signatures and prediction models. Translating these into certified diagnostic products or approved clinical decision tools would typically require an additional development and regulatory phase.

Can these tools integrate with existing hospital information systems?

The prediction functions and quality-of-life measures were designed for clinical use in hematology departments. Integration with existing electronic health records or laboratory information systems would require software development and local validation, but the underlying models are well-documented across the 34 project deliverables.

Consortium

Who built it

This is a purely academic and research-driven consortium with 16 partners across 8 countries — but notably zero industry participants and zero SMEs. The 9 universities and 5 research organizations, led by Radboud University in the Netherlands, bring deep clinical and scientific expertise across Austria, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, and the UK. For a business looking to commercialize these findings, the absence of industry partners means there is likely no existing commercial pathway — but it also means the IP landscape may be simpler to navigate, with negotiations limited to academic institutions rather than competing commercial interests.

STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEITCoordinator · NL
UNIVERSITAET MUENSTERparticipant · DE
STICHTING VUparticipant · NL
ACADEMISCH ZIEKENHUIS GRONINGENparticipant · NL
THE LEEDS TEACHING HOSPITALS NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE TRUSTparticipant · UK
FUNDACION PARA LA INVESTIGACION DEL HOSPITAL UNIVERSITARIO LA FE DE LA COMUNIDAD VALENCIANAparticipant · ES
MEDIZINISCHE UNIVERSITAT INNSBRUCKparticipant · AT
UNIVERSITY OF YORKparticipant · UK
FUNDACION INSTITUTO DE ESTUDIOS DE CIENCIAS DE LA SALUD DE CASTILLA Y LEONparticipant · ES
STICHTING AMSTERDAM UMCparticipant · NL
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI PAVIAparticipant · IT
STIFTUNG ELN FOUNDATIONparticipant · DE
KAROLINSKA INSTITUTETparticipant · SE
GROUPE FRANCOPHONE DES MYELODYSPLASIESparticipant · FR
UMIT TIROL - PRIVATE UNIVERSITAT FUR GESUNDHEITSWISSENSCHAFTEN UND TECHNOLOGIE GMBHparticipant · AT

How to reach the team

Coordinator is Radboud University (Nijmegen, Netherlands). Contact through university technology transfer office or project website.

Order a report on this consortium See STICHTING RADBOUD UNIVERSITEIT profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want an introduction to the MDS-RIGHT research team to explore licensing their diagnostic biomarkers or prediction models? SciTransfer can arrange a targeted meeting with the right people.

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