We joined the EURAMET project "LUMETH" – metrological foundations of luminescence thermometry in healthcare

The LUMETH project (25HLT06), carried out within the EURAMET Metrology Partnership, aims to establish a complete metrological foundation for luminescence thermometry in healthcare. Temperature is a fundamental physiological parameter linked to inflammation, infection, ischemia and therapeutic response, yet its accurate measurement inside biological tissues remains a major clinical challenge. Existing techniques, including contact sensors, infrared cameras and MRI-based methods, face significant limitations in terms of spatial resolution, compatibility with clinical environments, or ability to probe deep tissues. Luminescence thermometry offers a fundamentally different approach: contactless temperature measurement with high spatial resolution, compatible with fibre-optic systems and a wide range of minimally invasive procedures.

For this method to reach clinical use, traceable calibration procedures, validated reference materials and harmonised measurement protocols with uncertainty budgets must be established. Within LUMETH, physical models describing the behaviour of luminescent probes under physiological conditions will be developed alongside clinical-compatible optical instrumentation and standardised guidelines supporting regulatory acceptance and industrial adoption. The project's outcomes will contribute to safer and more controlled thermal therapies - including ablation, hyperthermia and photothermal treatments - as well as to the development of diagnostic tools based on fibre-optic catheters and endoscopes.

The project is led by Prof. Daniel Jaque from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid. At the Institute of Low Temperature and Structure Research, the project is coordinated by Prof. Artur Bednarkiewicz, with the participation of Prof. Łukasz Marciniak and Dr Aleksandra Kowal.