As a Professor of Biomedical Image Analysis at the TU Delft and the Erasmus MC, Niessen and his research group developed AI techniques for the diagnosis and prediction of different kinds of conditions, such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, and prostate cancer, based on MRI and CT scans. He quickly realized that there were many more possibilities in this field. He also observed a gap between potential and practice. The same goes for his own hospital: ‘We did wonderful analyses in our research group, but you can't easily transfer that to clinical practice.’
As part of the Rotterdam Study (the LifeLines of Rotterdam), his research group analysed MRI scans of the brains of thousands of inhabitants of Rotterdam, who underwent MRI scans every three to five years. The objective was to understand why some people develop a certain type of dementia and others stay healthy. The team wanted to find out if the scans could reveal this at an early stage. Niessen: ‘The manual analysis was time-consuming and, most importantly, prone to mistakes. There had to be a better way. We came up with the idea to automate this process, so we developed software for MRI brain analysis. GE Healthcare became interested in our technologies and we wanted to scale up. That's why, in 2012, we founded Quantib BV and signed a licence agreement with the Erasmus MC. GE Healthcare became our launching customer.’
From then on, things developed quickly. Quantib received its first significant investments from Holland Ventures and Innovation Quarter in 2017, and over the next ten years, the team expanded to about 45 people. ‘We were a true frontrunner in our field. In 2015, I received the Stevin prize for my group's research — that was before everybody got involved in AI. Quantib even pioneered the introduction of one of the first three FDA-approved AI tools worldwide. We eventually developed eight FDA-approved products.’
In 2022, Quantib was taken over by Radnet, an American listed company. Radnet has 400 imaging centres in the USA and is committed to earlier and better diagnosis of the four most common types of cancer: lung cancer, easily seen on a CT scan; prostate cancer, easily seen on an MRI; breast cancer, which can be detected with a mammogram and MRI; and colon cancer. Imaging still plays a limited part in the latter.
Radnet turned out to be the right fit. At the time, access to data was exactly what Quantib needed. And applications could be upscaled through its large network. The Quantib team is still based in Rotterdam and is currently an important part of DeepHealth, the AI branch of Radnet. Looking back, Niessen is satisfied. ‘Quantib's advanced AI imaging analysis techniques support doctors worldwide in diagnosing and predicting the most common types of cancer. As a researcher, you cannot possibly have a more direct impact.’
Niessen knows from his own experience what is needed to successfully market your own research results. ‘Honestly, when I started this, I had no experience at all with starting a company and I was unaware of what would be needed to make it successful. I was lucky to have surrounded myself with the right people, an experienced CEO from outside academia, a strong supervisory board. There is so much to it: knowledge about quality standards, maintaining relationships with investors, conducting market research. You need broad expertise to make a young company successful.’
After his Quantib adventure, just over two years ago, Niessen came to Groningen as Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the UG and Board member of the UMCG. ‘Of course, I knew some things about Groningen, but once here, I was immediately impressed by the quality of the research that is being conducted and the talent here. And this happens in so many different fields; examples include our research on the microbiome, transplants, oncology, psychiatry, lung diseases, and so much more. I recently visited the first research institutes day of the UMCG. On that day, young researchers pitch their research. When I see them working so passionately in their field, I am incredibly proud. I thought, “Wow, all of that is happening here!” This “make it happen” mentality and the willingness to work together takes us far. Another thing that I like about Groningen is that people wish each other success. There is a pleasant and positive vibe here.’
Wiro is known as an ambitious administrator. Besides serving as a Board member at the Faculty of Medical Sciences of the UG and the UMCG, he is Captain of Science of the Life Sciences Top Team of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, member of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), and member of the Netherlands Academy of Engineering. He has some ideas on how Groningen should become Europe's number one valorization hotspot, especially when it comes to health and healthcare, as this is where his passion lies.
‘Firstly, we need to make sure that we do this on a large scale. Not everything will be a success, so we need to think big.
Secondly, we will need to build an innovation ecosystem built around health and healthcare. An ecosystem that makes it attractive for researchers and companies to start and develop here. Such an innovative ecosystem also involves top-tier physical and digital research facilities, shared with companies. The Healthy Ageing Campus will be one of those facilities. This way, we will turn Groningen into a welcoming and high-quality campus, home to researchers with an entrepreneurial spirit. In that sense, we have a lot to learn from how they do this in Boston, where they have an incredibly vibrant ecosystem.’
‘Particularly in healthcare, data-driven health—the combination of data and AI—is gaining importance. I sincerely hope that the AI factory will come to the Netherlands, and thus to Groningen. Innovation for health and healthcare will be an important application of the AI factory. We have a good starting position: with LifeLines, worldwide a unique population study, and our clinical cohorts, we can thoroughly research health, risk of illness, and different stages of illness. The combination of this unique data and the expertise of analysing it with AI, forms a strong proposition for innovation in the fields of health and healthcare. In LifeLines, for example, we research which combination of environmental factors is responsible for ensuring that residents of a community stay healthy. And here at the UMCG, we are developing precise diagnostics to deploy the optimal treatment for individual patients. We have all the ingredients—the knowledge and the data—to ensure more healthy years for the North. And remember: AI has many application areas. So it's not only healthcare that can benefit from it.’
Niessen still finds fulfilment every day in his adventure as an entrepreneur. He is most proud of the fact that what he and his PhD students started years ago is used every day by doctors worldwide. He likes to convey this feeling to his fellow researchers.
‘Sometimes, you have the opportunity to immediately benefit society and patients with what you do. There is nothing better than that. It broadens your worldview. The only thing I can tell these researchers is: go for it! The UG and the UMCG believe it is important. We appreciate people who teach, do research, but also people who innovate. This diversity of careers is important and we want to further support this. Business Generator Groningen and the UMCG Innovation Center are here to help you take these first steps. Go for it, it’s worth it!’
