News
METASTRA at the Global Spine Congress 2026 in Istanbul
Members of the METASTRA team presented four studies at the Global Spine Congress (GSC 2026), held in Istanbul, Turkey from 27 to 30 May 2026. The congress is the world's leading annual gathering of sp...
METASTRA at ISSLS SASS 2026 in Cape Town
The METASTRA project was represented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the International Society for the Study of the Lumbar Spine (ISSLS), held jointly with the South African Spine Society (SASS) in Cape...
On World Health Day, METASTRA reaffirms its mission to bring precision to spinal cancer care
This World Health Day, we are thinking about the cancer patients whose lives are upended, not just by their diagnosis, but by what comes after.
For patients whose cancer has spread to the spine, the...
New Video: Florian Rieger on Spine Biomechanics and the METASTRA Project
We are excited to share a new video featuring Florian Rieger, PhD researcher in spine biomechanics at ETH Zurich and a key contributor to the METASTRA project.
In the video, Florian walks us through...
METASTRA Celebrates Women Transforming Cancer Care Through Computational Biomechanics
This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, METASTRA recognises the scientists who are pushing the boundaries of what is possible in cancer care.
METASTRA is transforming the assessment of...
METASTRA Coordinator Co-Chairs Track at VPH 2026 Conference
METASTRA is pleased to announce that Prof. Luca Cristofolini from the Biomechanics Group at the University of Bologna, coordinator of the METASTRA project, will co-chair the track “Decision support sy...
New METASTRA Video Explains How AI and Biomechanics Can Improve Fracture Risk Assessment in Spinal Metastases
Each year, millions of people across Europe are diagnosed with cancer, and for many patients the disease progresses to metastatic stages that severely affect quality of life. When cancer spreads to th...
New interview: Why timing and communication matter in clinical decision-making
A new video interview with Samuele Luca Gould offers an inside look at the less visible work behind the METASTRA project. Drawing on his role in scientific and technical project management, he discuss...
New METASTRA Interview with Mariarita Intagliata Now Available
METASTRA has released a new interview featuring Mariarita Intagliata, who discusses her role in the project’s clinical and data management activities. She explains how she supports patient selection f...
METASTRA Featured at ICORS 2025 in Adelaide
At the ICORS 2025 conference in Adelaide, the METASTRA project was featured in a dedicated session presented by the project coordinator, Prof. Luca Cristofolini from University of Bologna.
The sessi...
New video: AI-Driven Fracture Risk, Built for EU Compliance with Christophe Amiel
METASTRA has released a new interview outlining how its Decision Support System (DSS) for patients with vertebral metastases is being designed with regulatory and quality requirements in mind from the...
Celebrating AI Appreciation Day: METASTRA Advances Cancer Care with AI-Powered Tools
On AI Appreciation Day, the METASTRA project is celebrating the transformative role of artificial intelligence in cancer care.
At the heart of METASTRA is an AI-driven decision support system that l...
METASTRA General Assembly: Strong Progress and Clear Next Steps
Over two full days in Zaragoza, the METASTRA consortium came together for its third General Assembly. Despite the heat, the atmosphere was focused, collaborative, and energised by the clear progress t...
METASTRA Symposium at EORS 2025
The METASTRA project will be presented at the upcoming European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) 2025 conference, taking place in Davos, Switzerland. The dedicated METASTRA symposium is scheduled f...
UNIBO to Present METASTRA at Global Spine Congress 2025
The University of Bologna (UNIBO) will present METASTRA at the Global Spine Congress 2025, one of the leading events in spine care and research, taking place from May 28–31, 2025, in Rio de Janeiro, B...
World Health Day 2025
Every year on April 7th, World Health Day is a reminder that health is a basic human right—not a privilege. At METASTRA, this belief is at the heart of everything we do.
Cancer patients with vertebr...
METASTRA Clinical and Experimental Analyses Workshop Successfully Held in Bologna
The METASTRA Clinical and Experimental Analyses Workshop took place from March 11th to 13th, 2025, at the University of Bologna, bringing together leading experts in spinal metastases and biomechanics...
Inspiring the Next Generation: Women in METASTRA Share Their Advice for Future Scientists
Science thrives on diversity, innovation, and fresh perspectives. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, METASTRA proudly recognizes the incredible contributions of women in our cons...
New studies illuminate structural dynamics of metastatic vertebral bodies
Recent advancements in spinal biomechanics have emerged from two important studies focusing on metastatic vertebral bodies. These investigations delve into the microstructural alterations caused by me...
METASTRA’s first publication: A major milestone
We are excited to announce the release of METASTRA’s first scientific publication, now featured in Scientific Reports! This marks an important milestone for the project, highlighting the innovative re...
Discover METASTRA's interview series
The METASTRA project has launched an interview series featuring insights from researchers and collaborators. These conversations provide a closer look at the work being done to advance biomechanics an...
Survey: Uptake of Computational modelling and simulations in clinical practice
Healthcare professionals—your insights are needed! The VPH Institute, a non-profit organisation for the advancement of in silico medicine, are assessing the current level of knowledge, diffusion, and...
Luca Cristofolini to present METASTRA at the EORS 2024 Congress
Luca Cristofolini (UNIBO), METASTRA's project coordinator, will be presenting at the European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS) 2024 Congress, taking place from September 18-20, 2024, in Aalborg, D...
Enrico Dall’Ara of METASTRA Presented Keynote at BioMedEng24 on Metastatic Spine Research
Enrico Dall’Ara, Leader of Work Package 3 from the University of Sheffield, actively participated in this year’s BioMedEng24 conference at Queen Mary University. He chaired the first session on in sil...
METASTRA Project Presented at VPH2024 Congress
Vincenzo Carbone presented the METASTRA project during the "Cancer Modeling" session at the VPH2024 Congress in Stuttgart. The presentation, titled "Computer-aided effective fracture risk stratificat...
METASTRA Research to Feature at VPH2024 in Stuttgart
We are excited to announce that the METASTRA project will be presented at the upcoming VPH2024 Congress in Stuttgart. The presentation, titled "Computer-aided effective fracture risk stratification o...
Jaime Muñoz Presents Poster on Metastatic Spine Simulation at ESB 2024
At the 29th Congress of the European Society of Biomechanics (ESB), held in Edinburgh from June 30 to July 3, 2024, Jaime Muñoz presented a poster titled “3D Parametric Finite Element Model for the Me...
Jaime Muñoz Presents Research on Metastatic Spine Lesions at the Young Researchers' Conference
On June 26, 2024, Jaime Muñoz presented his work at the Young Researchers' Conference hosted by the Aragon Institute for Engineering Research (I3A) in Zaragoza, Spain. This annual event, held since 20...
Successful General Assembly held in Berlin
Our project team convened for a highly productive General Assembly in Berlin on June 13th and 14th. The event was hosted by our partners at Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Over the course of two...
METASTRA Supports European Week Against Cancer
As part of the European Week Against Cancer (EWAC), which runs from May 25 to 31, the METASTRA project will be actively participating in this vital initiative. EWAC is an annual event dedicated to r...
World Health Day
Millions of cancer patients in Europe facing bone metastases endure a critical dilemma: risk fractures or undergo surgery. Enter METASTRA, a pioneering project aiming to revolutionise treatment. Curre...
METASTRA Fosters Collaboration at HaDEA Networking Event
METASTRA participated in a recent networking event organized by the Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA). The event, held on March 22nd, brought together coordinators and members of various pro...
METASTRA: Artificial Intelligence Act
The METASTRA project integrates cutting-edge Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies into its interdisciplinary framework. By leveraging AI alongside Physiology (VPH), the project aims to revolution...
International Day of Women and Girls in Science
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, METASTRA extends heartfelt appreciation to the countless women whose invaluable contributions continue to propel advancements in the realm of s...
World Cancer Day 2024
Today marks World Cancer Day 2024, a day when the world unites to address critical cancer issues.
In our ongoing project, we're tackling a pressing concern for the 2.7 million cancer patients in Eur...
Post-doctoral Position in Experimental Bone/Spine Mechanics
Join Insigneo Institute to work with Dr Enrico Dall'Ara and Prof Damien Lacroix on the METASTRA project! This highly interdisciplinary post-doctoral position in Experimental Bone/Spine mechanics will...
AO Spine: Improving assessment methods and treatment options for spinal cancer patients
AO Spine is joining a groundbreaking international research project funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe program. Bringing together an interdisciplinary consortium of 15 partners, METASTRA is...
FRONTENDART: Transforming Fracture Risk Assessment for Cancer Patients with Vertebral Metastases
A groundbreaking initiative, METASTRA, is set to transform the way clinicians assess fracture risk in cancer patients with vertebral metastases. The ambitious project funded by the EU’s Horizon Europe...
METASTRA: Transforming Fracture Risk Assessment for Cancer Patients with Vertebral Metastases
Cutting-edge EU-funded project METASTRA unites an interdisciplinary team of experts to spearhead a transformative approach to revolutionize fracture risk assessment and personalized treatment for canc...