From the laboratory to the hospital: crossing the application threshold
ERC Proof of Concept grants aim to bridge the gap between exploratory research and practical application. Reserved for researchers who have already received ERC funding, they enable them to test the technical, commercial or clinical feasibility of an idea that arose during their initial project.
They are evaluated according to three criteria: disruptive innovation potential, methodological approach, and scientific leadership of the project leader. They represent a strategic springboard towards a high level of technological maturity (TRL 6-7), which is often a prerequisite for industrialization or clinical transfer.
In January 2025, 134 European researchers were selected from 377 proposals submitted (success rate: 35.5%). Only 10 projects are led by French institutions, including that of Elie Hachem, which once again confirms the excellence of the research carried out at Mines Paris – PSL.
A real-time decision-making tool for doctors
His project, entitled “Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence for Real-Time Clinical Decision Support and Intracranial Aneurysm Risk Prediction,” offers a breakthrough innovation: enabling doctors to visualize blood flow in the brain in real time and in 3D, in order to more accurately assess the risks associated with intracranial aneurysms.
Whereas current medical imaging relies on static representations, this new tool, based on developments by his entire research team, will offer dynamic and interactive simulation, facilitating diagnosis and treatment planning. It is based on a unique combination of physical modeling, artificial intelligence, and an immersive environment.
Beyond its immediate medical use, this real-time digital twin technology can be applied to many fields, including industrial process modeling, visualization of material microstructures, and additive manufacturing control. This cross-disciplinary vision is supported by CEMEF’s expertise.
A second ERC grant for Elie Hachem
This second ERC award for Elie Hachem follows the ERC Consolidator Grant he received in 2022 for the CURE (Control Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysm) project. It further strengthens the international recognition of his work at the crossroads of materials science, scientific computing, artificial intelligence, and technological innovation.
With a total of €150,000 over an 18-month period, this grant will enable the models developed to be validated, AI to be integrated into an interactive interface, and initial collaborations with healthcare professionals to be launched.
