In the quest to understand and better monitor vascular diseases, a groundbreaking measurement campaign has yielded impressive data. At the heart of this revolution is the ANR MODELAGE project, led by the MEDyC mixed research unit (URCA/CNRS) in collaboration with the CReSTIC, LICIIS, and LMR laboratories from URCA, as well as the LIST3N and GAMMA3 laboratories from the University of Technology of Troyes and the ANATOMIX beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron (Saclay). Using synchrotron light, these entities are probing the subtle changes that occur in arterial walls during normal aging or in the onset of vascular pathologies.

Cutting-Edge Technology in Medical Research

The ANATOMIX beamline employs highly coherent X-ray radiation, providing unmatched resolution, contrast, and field width. This technology enables unprecedented examination of arterial walls, revealing details that are invisible to traditional exploration methods. For example, it has uncovered a hidden lattice-like network within the elastic laminae—previously considered disordered structures of the arterial wall. These laminae act like layers of soft rubber inside the arteries, allowing them to stretch and contract according to blood pressure. This technological breakthrough is crucial for studying fine changes in arterial walls, particularly in relation to pathologies such as diabetes, which gradually and irreversibly alter the arterial wall.

A Multidisciplinary Challenge

This fourth measurement campaign generated tens of terabytes (approximately 1000 GB) of data: a single image can reach 120 GB, representing 31 billion voxels (the 3D equivalent of pixels), with multiple images potentially combined. Handling and analyzing these vast datasets pose substantial challenges in signal processing, computing, statistics, AI, and biology. This complexity requires close collaboration across various fields of expertise to transform these enormous quantities of data into actionable knowledge.

Léo Goire, a second-year master’s student in CHPS (High-Performance Computing and Simulation, UFR Exact and Natural Sciences), played a key role in this ambitious measurement campaign. Supervised by Dr. Sébastien Almagro from MEDyC and Prof. Nicolas Passat from CReSTIC, he reflects on this exceptional experience with gratitude, highlighting the invaluable opportunity to participate in a campaign at the SOLEIL synchrotron.

An Enriching Collaboration

The ANR MODELAGE project brings together renowned partners: the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne, the University of Technology of Troyes, and the SOLEIL Synchrotron in Saclay. Together, these institutions pool their expertise to push the boundaries of medical and technological research. This collaboration, built on several years of reflection, has made this measurement campaign possible.

New Perspectives

The commitment and passion of the researchers involved in the ANR MODELAGE project illustrate the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing medical science. The data collected, thanks to the ANATOMIX beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron, opens new perspectives for understanding normal vascular aging and the onset of certain chronic vascular pathologies. Moreover, this project demonstrates that we can now visualize and quantify the effects of innovative treatments for cardiovascular diseases on the walls of diseased arteries.

We will closely monitor the discoveries arising from these measurements.

What is the SOLEIL Synchrotron?

The SOLEIL synchrotron is a world-class research facility located in Saclay, south of Paris. It is a particle accelerator that produces an array of extremely powerful, versatile, and precise light, covering a wide range of wavelengths, from X-rays to infrared. These beams of light are used by scientists from various fields to explore the structures and properties of matter with unprecedented precision. The applications of the SOLEIL synchrotron span physics, chemistry, biology, and medicine, enabling discoveries that contribute to significant technological and scientific advancements.

MEDyC: Extracellular Matrix and Cell Dynamics

CReSTIC: Research Center in Information and Communication Science and Technology

LICIIS: Laboratory of Computer Science for High-Performance Computing and Imaging for Simulation

LMR: Laboratory of Mathematics of Reims

LIST3N: Computer Science and Digital Society Laboratory

GAMMA3: Automatic Mesh Generation and Advanced Methods