Breast cancer is the most common incident form of cancer among women bellow seventy years of age. Early diagnosis is recognized as a critical factor that improves the chance of survival. In this research, anthropomorphic physical three-dimensional models of the breast are necessary, whenever a real tissue background is required to investigate the detectability of lesions, the performance of image processing algorithms, the reconstruction algorithms, the whole imaging chain, and to replace real breast in virtual clinical studies. Manufacturing of such phantoms, however, is still not widely accepted due to cost and challenges of current 3D technology, limited number of suitable printing materials and availability of anthropomorphic computational models. This project aims to form an international network of organizations working on a joint research program on the development of a complete technology for the production of physical models of the breast, based on their computational models. The overall goal is to utilize partners’ experience and expertise to improve research, researcher training and skills, and increase knowledge transfer from research to practice. This is achieved through international and intersectoral collaboration and staff exchange. Expected results are related to new methodology for design of anthropomorphic breast phantoms, new methodology for producing materials, and a methodology for development of a prototype of complete equipment and relevant technology for the fabrication of realistic breast phantoms, structures or parts of them including health and cancerous tissues. An application in x-ray imaging is targeted. The consortium has an expertise in rapid prototyping technology, modelling, validation and use of anthropomorphic phantoms, software and hardware design. Joining the efforts of engineers, anatomists, physicists, x-ray imaging specialists in this project guarantees the successful implementation of the project aims.
