SAGE-CARE · Project

Connecting Patient Genomics with Health Records for Smarter Melanoma Treatment

healthTestedTRL 5

Imagine a doctor treating skin cancer who can instantly cross-reference a patient's DNA with their entire medical history and the latest research — all in one search. Right now, that information sits in separate databases that don't talk to each other. SAGE-CARE built a platform that links genomic data, electronic health records, and published research so clinicians can spot patterns — like specific gene variants tied to melanoma — and make faster, better-informed treatment decisions. Think of it as a smart search engine that connects the dots between a patient's genes, their medical file, and thousands of research papers.

By the numbers

countries in the consortium

partners in the consortium

industry partners including SMEs

40%

industry participation ratio

EUR 450,000

EU contribution

total project deliverables

The business problem

What needed solving

Oncologists treating melanoma today must manually piece together patient genomic data, clinical records, and the latest research findings — all stored in separate, incompatible systems. This slows down treatment decisions and means potentially life-saving genetic patterns go unnoticed. There is no single tool that lets a clinician search across a patient's DNA, their health history, and published studies simultaneously.

The solution

What was built

SAGE-CARE built a platform that semantically links genomic sequences, electronic health records, and research repositories using high-performance computing. The key deliverable is a pilot system rolled out with web and mobile interfaces, allowing clinicians to query geno-phenotype associations in melanoma across distributed data sources.

Audience

Who needs this

Pharma companies developing targeted melanoma therapiesEHR software vendors looking to integrate genomic dataHospital networks building precision medicine programsBiotech startups in oncology diagnosticsHealth data analytics companies serving cancer research

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Pharmaceutical & Biotech

enterprise

Target: Pharma companies developing melanoma or oncology treatments

If you are a pharma company developing targeted melanoma therapies — this project built a platform that semantically links genomic sequences with electronic health records and research data. This could accelerate your drug target identification by letting researchers query geno-phenotype associations like the ABCB5 and CDK4 gene indicators across distributed patient datasets. The pilot system with web and mobile interfaces was tested across a 5-country, 5-partner consortium.

Health IT & Clinical Software

mid-size

Target: EHR and clinical decision support system vendors

If you are a health IT company struggling to integrate genomic data into existing electronic health record systems — SAGE-CARE developed semantic interlinking technology that connects spatially distributed patient records with genomic sequences. The platform uses high-performance computing to handle the scale of these queries. With 2 industry partners already involved in the consortium, the technology has been validated with real clinical input.

Oncology Clinics & Hospital Networks

enterprise

Target: Cancer treatment centers and hospital groups with precision medicine programs

If you run an oncology department that wants to offer personalized melanoma treatment but lacks tools to connect patient genomics with clinical records — this project delivered a web and mobile pilot system designed for exactly that. Clinicians can make reasoned queries over vast knowledge bases for melanoma diagnosis, treatment, and management. The system was developed with active clinical end users who highlighted the need for more innovative cancer treatment approaches.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to license or adopt this technology?

The project operated on a EUR 450,000 EU contribution under the MSCA-RISE scheme, which is primarily a researcher exchange program. Licensing terms would need to be discussed directly with the coordinator at Hochschule Darmstadt. Given the academic-led consortium, costs are likely negotiable for pilot partnerships.

Can this scale to handle large hospital networks or national health systems?

The platform was designed with high-performance computing (supercomputers) specifically to handle queries across spatially distributed electronic health records and genomic databases. Based on available project data, the pilot was rolled out with web and mobile interfaces, but scaling to national-level deployment would likely require additional engineering and infrastructure investment.

What is the IP situation — who owns the technology?

The consortium includes 3 universities and 2 industry partners across 5 countries (DE, EL, IE, IT, UK). IP ownership would be governed by the consortium agreement. The coordinator, Hochschule Darmstadt in Germany, is the primary contact for licensing discussions.

Is this limited to melanoma or can it work for other cancers?

The project specifically targeted malignant melanoma, including specific gene indicators like ABCB5 function and CDK4. However, the underlying semantic interlinking platform connecting genomic data with health records is architecturally applicable to other cancer types. Adapting it would require loading new disease-specific ontologies and datasets.

How mature is this — is it ready for clinical deployment?

A pilot system was rolled out using web and mobile interfaces, which is the project's key demo deliverable. The project ran from 2014 to 2018 and is now closed. Based on available project data, the technology reached demonstration stage but would need further regulatory and clinical validation before full deployment.

Does this comply with health data regulations like GDPR?

The project dealt with electronic health records and genomic data, which are sensitive under GDPR and health data regulations. Based on available project data, the platform handles spatially distributed records, suggesting a federated approach. Specific compliance certifications would need to be verified with the consortium.

Consortium

Who built it

The SAGE-CARE consortium brings together 5 partners from 5 countries (Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, UK), with a healthy 40% industry ratio — 2 of the 5 partners are from industry, and both are SMEs. This is notable because it means the technology was developed with commercial input from the start, not just in academic labs. The coordinator, Hochschule Darmstadt (University of Applied Sciences), is a practice-oriented German institution. The mix of 3 universities and 2 industry SMEs across major European markets suggests the results are designed to be applicable across different healthcare systems. For a business looking to engage, the SME partners may be the most accessible entry point for technology licensing or partnership discussions.

HOCHSCHULE DARMSTADT (UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES H-DA)Coordinator · DE
GIOUMPITEK MELETI SCHEDIASMOS YLOPOIISI KAI POLISI ERGON PLIROFORIKIS ETAIREIA PERIORISMENIS EFTHYNISparticipant · EL
UNIVERSITA DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI FEDERICO IIparticipant · IT
NSILICO LIFE SCIENCE LIMITEDparticipant · IE
THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGHparticipant · UK

How to reach the team

Hochschule Darmstadt (University of Applied Sciences), Germany — reach out to the computer science or health informatics department

Order a report on this consortium See HOCHSCHULE DARMSTADT (UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES H-DA) profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want a warm introduction to the SAGE-CARE team? SciTransfer can connect you with the right person in the consortium for licensing, partnership, or pilot discussions.

Order a report on this topic More in Health & Biomedical