“Our goal is to enhance surgical quality and strengthen the caregiver–patient relationship, while introducing innovative training methods for the next generation of surgeons.”

Professor Jean-Christophe Bernhard

Augmented kidney cancer surgery using digital and 3D printing technologies

Each year, 345,000 kidney cancer surgeries are performed globally—but the quality remains inconsistent across institutions. To address this gap, the Digital Urology 3D project was initiated within the Department of Urology at Bordeaux University Hospital Centre.

This ambitious initiative aims to leverage advanced digital tools, 3D technologies, and data analytics to standardise and elevate the global quality of kidney cancer surgery. The project proposes a comprehensive, holistic approach to modernising surgical care.

It is carried out by a consortium of academic and industrial partners: Grenoble University Hospital Centre, Bordeaux University, French National Centre for Scientific Research, Fujifilm, RESCOLL, Sophia Genetics, SurgAR.

It relies on the UroCCR, the French National Research Network on kidney cancer (lien vers le site), certified by the French National Cancer Institute (Institut National du Cancer, INCa). www.uroccr.fr

Digital Urology 3D is structured around three scientific and technical work packages, complemented by a project management work package and a dissemination and valorisation work package.

Pictogramme laureat du PIA RHU Digital urology 3d

December 20, 2021

Winner of
the PIA “RHU”

Pictogramme signature de la convention Digital urology 3d

April 12, 2022

convention Signature

Pictogramme lancement projet Digital urology 3d

April 15, 2022

Official Project
launch

Pictogramme cloture du projet Digital urology 3d

April 14, 2027

Project
closure

3 Work Packages

Digital Urology workpackages améliorer procédures chirugicales

Enhancing
Surgery procedure
quality

Development and assessment of image-guided techniques (augmented or virtual reality), to guide and to improve surgery and kidney cancer surgical outcomes.

Digital Urology workpackages améliorer expériences

Enhancing
Patient experience

Use of 3D printing to create personalised anatomical models, helping to better inform patients, reduce anxiety, and support post-operative care.

Digital Urology workpackages améliorer formations

Enhancing
Surgical education and training

Development of 3D printing techniques to produce biomimetic kidneys—closely replicating real organ properties—for realistic and effective hands-on surgeon training.

Team

Jean Christophe, Coordinateur, Responsable Scientifique et Technique Digital Urology

Pr Jean Christophe Bernhard

CHU de Bordeaux
Director

Solène Ricard, Program Manager I.CaRe Digital Urology

Solène Ricard

CHU de Bordeaux
Programme Manager I.CaRe

Manon Jaffredo

CHU de Bordeaux
Digital Urology 3D
Project Manager

Dr Gaëlle Margue

CHU de Bordeaux
Urology fellow – PhD student – Work Package 2 Leader

Emmanuelle Callede

CHU de Bordeaux
Clinical Research Nurse

Céline Croisis

CHU de Bordeaux
Clinical Research Nurse

Rémi Blanc-Gonnet

CHU de Bordeaux
Clinical Research Associate

Marie Lou Chevet

CHU de Bordeaux
Clinical Research Associate

Arna Geshkovska

CHU de Bordeaux
Biostatistician

Guillaume Herman

CHU de Bordeaux
Data Manager

Maxime Pattou

CHU de Bordeaux
Urology Intern

Federico Rubat Baleuri

CHU de Bordeaux
Urology Intern

Justine Nespoulous

CHU de Bordeaux
Legal Expert

Laurent Piazza

CHU de Bordeaux
Head of Innovation and Medico-economic Evaluation Department

Cécile Klochendler

CHU de Bordeaux
Innovation
Programme Manager

Corinne Castermans

CHU de Bordeaux
Clinical Trial Manager

Annaël Bernini

CHU de Bordeaux
Clinical Research Associate

Laetitia Hari

CHU de Bordeaux
Clinical Research Associate

Our partners

Pr Jean-Luc Descotes

CHU de Grenoble
Urological Surgeon (WP1.1)

Assilah Bouzit

CHU de Grenoble
Clinical Research Associate (WP1.1)

Ludovic Sangouard

Fujifilm
Commercial Manager (WP1 & 2)

Nicolas Bourdel

SurgAR
Chief Executive Officer SurgAR | Professor of gynaecological surgery (WP1.2 & 1.3)

Julie Desternes

SurgAR
Data Science Project Manager and Data Mangement Coordinator (WP1.2 & 1.3)

Kilian Chandelon

SurgAR
R&D Engineer | PhD student (WP1.2 & 1.3)

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Matthieu Faessel

TechnoShop Coh@bit | IUT de Bordeaux | Université de Bordeaux
Director | Work Package 3 Leader (WP2 & 3)

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Jocelyn Sabatier

TechnoShop Coh@bit | IUT de Bordeaux | Université de Bordeaux
Professor (WP2 & 3)

Joffrey Sarrazin

TechnoShop Coh@bit | IUT de Bordeaux | Université de Bordeaux
Mechanical Design and Manufacturing Process Engineer (WP2 & 3)

Hugo Larribère

TechnoShop Coh@bit | IUT de Bordeaux | Université de Bordeaux
Mechanical Design Engineer (WP2 & 3)

Marthe-Aline Jutand

CeDS | Université de Bordeaux
Directrice de la Faculté des Sciences de l'éducation et de la formation | Maître de conférences (WP2)

Pictogramme collaboratrice Digital Urology 3D

Hélène Hoarau

CeDS | Université de Bordeaux | CHU de Bordeaux
Anthropologue en santé (WP2)

Sarah Masanet

CeDS | Université de Bordeaux
Doctorante en Sciences de l'éducation (WP2)

Pr Amandine Crombé

CHU de Bordeaux
PU-PH en radiologie (WP3.1)

Dr Eva Jambon

CHU de Bordeaux
Chef de Clinique Assistante en radiologie | Doctorante en Sciences (WP3.1)

Thierry Colin

SOPHiA Genetics
VP Radiomics research (WP3.1)

Jacques Leng

Laboratoire du Futur (LOF)
Directeur de recherche (WP3)

Marleine Tamer

Laboratoire du Futur (LOF)
Post-doc (WP3)

Olivier Mondain Monval

Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal | CNRS
Professeur (WP3)

Camille Courtine

Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal | CNRS
Post-doc (WP3)

Gabrielle Lacroix

Centre de Recherche Paul Pascal | CNRS
PhD student (WP3)

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Aurélien Voisin

RESCOLL
Chargé d’affaires (WP3)

Pierre Brignou

RESCOLL
Chargé de projets innovation (WP3)

Pictogramme collaboratrice Digital Urology 3D

Marilys Blanchy

RESCOLL
Cheffe de projet R&D (WP3)

Pr Franck Bladou

CHU de Bordeaux
PU-PH en urologie (WP3.5)

Laura Richert digital Urology 3D

Pr Laura Richert

CHU de Bordeaux
Responsable Unité de soutien Méthodologique à la Recherche (WP1, 2 & 3)

Pictogramme collaboratrice Digital Urology 3D

Roxane Couëron

CHU de Bordeaux
Biostatisticienne (WP1, 2 & 3)

Pictogramme collaboratrice Digital Urology 3D

Séverine Martiren

CHU de Bordeaux
Data Manager (WP1, 2 & 3)

Membres du Scientific Advisory Board

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Pr Alexandre De La Taille

Hôpital Henri Mondor, AP-PH, Chef du service d’Urologie, Président de l’Association Française d’Urologie , Vice-Président du Conseil Départemental de l’Ordre des Médecins (2021-2024) Rédacteur en chef adjoint du World Journal of Urology,
Président de l’Association pour la Recherche sur les Maladies de la Prostate,
Membre de l’équipe de recherche TReCAP sur le cancer de la prostate.

Paris, FRANCE

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Dr Andrew Hung

Norris Cancer Center, University of Southerm California
Los Angeles, CA - USA

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Pr Alberto Breda

Fundacio Puigvert,
Chef du service de transplantation rénale, Consultant en oncologie urologique et endourologue.
Barcelone ESPAGNE

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Pr Philippe Spiess

Moffitt Cancer Center, University of South Florida,
Professeur et chef adjoint de chirurgie.
Tampa, FL - USA

Pictogramme collaborateur digital Urology 3D

Pr Simon Tangay

Université de McGill,
Professeur et directeur de la Division d'urologie,
Titulaire en sciences urologiques.

Montréal, CANADA

Governance

Scientific Advisory Board

Provides advice and recommendations on the major strategic and scientific orientations, and project’s technological options.

Industrial Committee

Guides the strategy for building external industrial collaborations.

Strategic Committee

Validates strategic orientations, budgets, action plans and progress reports, as well as any decisions relating to the project’s progress.

Executive Committee

Oversees project execution, budget adherence, and milestone reporting.

Scientific Committee

Monitors, shares and assesses the project’s progress, defines strategies to deal with delays or difficulties, and approves external scientific collaborations.