METABOLISM & NUTRITION From a holistic view of health and illness, we focus on metabolic changes during the various stages of life. We study the influence of lifestyle (smoking, physical activity and diet), age and loss of organ function due to acute and chronic diseases on the metabolism, body composition and interconnected functions. We translate a better understanding of the interplay between these factors into new diagnostics and the development of new interventions for prompt and customised treatment of metabolic disruptions. In this way, we are contributing towards preventing many chronic diseases, having a favourable influence on the course of an illness for the individual patient, and optimising oncological and other treatment processes. PATIENT, NUTRITION AND EXERCISE A healthy nutrition and sufficient exercise for our patients helps them to recover more quickly and enjoy greater health benefits. In the Patient, Nutrition and Exercise programme, we combine and develop initiatives that contribute to these aspects. For example, we have developed a training module with which the patient and their informal carer learn how to manage nutrition and exercise properly before and after a hospital stay. 24 Healthy Living 2025 IMAGING Imaging techniques provide information on the form, structure, function and interaction of tissue. We have a wide variety of state-of-the art imaging techniques at our disposal. Through our scientific research, these techniques directly benefit patient care at Maastricht UMC+. Medical specialists (radiologists and nuclear physicians), laboratory technicians, and clinical physicists work closely with researchers within Maastricht University. As well as unique scanner technology within the hospital (e.g. integrated PET-MRI; advanced CT and Angiography), with imaging centre Scannexus we are the only institution in Europe to have a scanner lab with human ultra-high field MRI scanners (7 and 9.4 Tesla). In collaboration with Maastro, the proton therapy centre for Southeast Netherlands (Maastro PTC) was set up, which offers a new type of radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. The Maastricht Multimodal Molecular Imaging Institute (M4I) focuses on nanoscopy and imaging mass spectrometry. All these techniques and modalities are brought together, partly in a virtual form, in Maastricht Imaging Valley (MIV). MIV has the aim of using image acquisition, interpretation, data analysis and data management to arrive at a comprehensive answer to diagnostics, prevention and therapy. IKNIFE: THE INTELLIGENT SCALPEL When removing a tumour, it is not always easy for a surgeon to be sure of having removed all cancer cells. It is not desirable to cut out too much healthy tissue and saving organ tissue is actually a matter of life and death. The ‘intelligent scalpel’, known as the iKnife, could play an important role in such surgery in the future. Researchers at the M4I research institute and surgeons at Maastricht UMC+ are involved in the early stages of this innovative development. During an operation, the iKnife can distinguish healthy tissue from tumour tissue with the greatest precision, based on a molecular profile. Scientists conducting clinical and basic research are brought together in an integrated research laboratory to make this surgical innovation possible. We are on the way to the ‘ oncological operating theatre of the future’.
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