The Bavarian Oncological Radiology Network (BORN) aims to support patients and medical professionals across Bavaria by standardizing imaging procedures and systematically evaluating cancer screenings. This initiative creates a reliable foundation for data collection and exchange, ultimately building a globally unique database to enhance cancer diagnosis and treatment.
Launched in August 2022, BORN is dedicated to improving cancer care in Bavaria through standardized imaging and reporting. As part of the Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF) network, BORN establishes a unified research environment that benefits both patients and healthcare providers. The second project phase has now been successfully completed with the provision of six additional reporting templates. The first six reporting templates have already been published and are available on the BZKF website.
By fostering collaboration among Bavaria’s six university hospitals in Augsburg, Erlangen, Munich (two locations), Regensburg, and Würzburg, BORN integrates expertise in early detection, treatment, and follow-up care. This interdisciplinary approach ensures patients receive comprehensive, high-quality care.
To learn more about the project's origins and significance, we spoke with Dr. Mandy Wahlbuhl-Becker, Managing Director of BZKF.
What was the original vision behind BORN, and how did the idea come about?
When the BZKF was founded in 2019, one of its key objectives was to ensure that patients benefit from its projects by providing widespread access to oncological expertise. Rapidly translating new findings into clinical practice and collaboratively developing new diagnostic, therapeutic, and treatment strategies were seen as essential.
In 2022, the six Bavarian chairs of radiology initiated the BORN project, a groundbreaking cross-site collaboration. Their vision was to directly benefit cancer patients across Bavaria by harmonizing oncological imaging workflows. BORN focuses on standardizing tumor imaging, structured evaluation, and establishing a secure IT framework for data collection and exchange.
What role does the BZKF play in coordinating and supporting BORN?
The BZKF office supports all BZKF projects by providing tools such as the content management system Confluence, ensuring transparent and secure collaboration across institutions and with industry partners.
Currently, 95 BZKF members and 10 Mint Medical users actively contribute to the development and refinement of BORN imaging templates at all six BZKF sites. The BZKF office works closely with the BORN management team to oversee the administrative and organizational aspects of the project.
What advantages does BORN offer for patients?
Imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosing and monitoring cancer. To enable scientifically validated evaluations, radiological imaging data must be collected in a structured and standardized manner.
Since 2022, BORN has successfully finalized six entity-specific templates, with more currently under validation. After a pilot phase in Bavarian university hospitals, the long-term goal is to extend BORN templates to non-university hospitals across Bavaria.
To achieve this, a training phase for community-based radiologists is essential. A mentorship model is being considered, where each university hospital would train staff in regional hospitals. This would allow patients to receive standardized imaging and follow-up care close to home, using cutting-edge imaging and analysis methods. This reduces the need for redundant scans and enhances continuity of care.
BORN also provides significant scientific benefits. Standardized imaging data will be consistent across Bavaria, enabling large-scale research and supporting artificial intelligence (AI) applications for structured data analysis.
How does collaboration with partners like Mint Medical and Brainlab contribute to the project's success?
One of BZKF’s key objectives is to strengthen collaborations with non-university institutions and Bavarian companies. The BORN partnership with Mint Medical is a flagship project within BZKF, highlighting the importance of industry collaborations.
Through BZKF researchers’ contributions, harmonized BORN imaging templates are integrated into Mint Medical’s structured reporting environment. This partnership ensures a seamless rollout of validated templates, fostering a productive exchange between both teams and maintaining high data quality standards.
What key findings have emerged from BORN so far?
"Alone, we can do so little; together, we can do so much."
A major takeaway from BORN is the smooth communication and coordination across Bavaria’s research, clinical, and governmental sectors. BORN is the first BZKF project to receive joint funding from both the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts (StMWK) and the Bavarian State Ministry of Health, Care, and Prevention (StMGP).
The project is a model of cross-institutional collaboration, with immediate benefits for patients. It also highlights the value of active networking and joint research initiatives within BZKF, fully embracing the center’s motto: "Strengthening excellence – sharing knowledge."
What aspect of BORN makes you particularly proud?
BORN has gained national and international visibility, further elevating BZKF’s contributions. Additionally, the project has successfully expanded structured oncological imaging beyond Bavaria, creating an integrated infrastructure for standardized reporting.
As a result, BORN has become an official partner of the RACOON project within the German Network of University Medicine (NUM) — a testament to its innovative approach and broad impact.
This sector-wide collaboration makes working at BZKF incredibly rewarding. It is also highly motivating to see how rapidly research findings are being translated into clinical practice, ultimately benefiting patients across Bavaria.
About Dr. Mandy Wahlbuhl-Becker
Dr. Mandy Wahlbuhl-Becker has been the Managing Director of BZKF since 2020. Until 2024, she also led the office of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN. Previously, she worked for several years at the Pediatric Research Center of the Children’s and Adolescent Clinic at the University Hospital Erlangen.
Want to learn more?
Visit the Bavarian Cancer Research Center’s website for more details on BORN and its impact.
