Kick-off meeting of the THz-Skin Pathfinder Open project: towards new frontiers in the early detection of skin cancer
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On 12 February 2026, the kick-off meeting of the THz-Skin Pathfinder Open project took place in Joensuu, Finland, at the University of Eastern Finland.
The European THz-Skin project was launched with a very concrete objective: to find a new, faster, and more accessible way to detect serious skin lesions, such as melanoma, at an early stage. The innovative idea is to study terahertz (THz) waves, a particular type of radiation invisible to the human eye. When the skin is healthy or affected by a pathological alteration, its behaviour in response to these waves changes. The project therefore aims to develop a highly sensitive instrument capable of detecting and measuring these small differences, helping doctors to distinguish dangerous lesions earlier and more accurately. |
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This is a complex technological challenge: the variations to be measured are extremely small and require highly precise instruments. However, if successful, the project could significantly improve the early diagnosis of skin cancers, making it simpler and potentially more widespread. In this context, Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste plays a central role. It is responsible for designing and building the entire electronic system that collects signals from the sensors, known as mechanical microbolometers. These tiny detectors respond to THz radiation by slightly changing their oscillation frequency. The task of the electronics is to track these extremely small changes in real time. To achieve this, several control systems are being developed to operate in parallel on programmable devices, capable of continuously monitoring variations in the sensors. In simple terms, the electronic system “listens” to how the oscillations of the microbolometers change when they absorb radiation and translates these variations into useful information. This makes it possible to distinguish the different “colours” of THz radiation — that is, the different components of the emission — and therefore to recognise more precisely the differences between healthy skin and skin with potential pathological alterations. All the measurements carried out in the Instrumentation and Detectors Laboratory at Elettra will be performed on artificial skin samples that replicate as faithfully as possible the various conditions observed in real-life situations. |
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Last Updated on Friday, 06 March 2026 14:00
