Wyss Geneva, EPFL, UNIGE and HCK launch BrainQuant SA to revolutionize early neurodegenerative disease detection

BrainQuant harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to analyze Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) MRI sequences. This advanced imaging technique reveals subtle changes in cerebral blood flow—often before structural damage becomes visible—allowing for earlier detection of cognitive decline, including conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease.

“Brain MRI is standard of care for most patients with suspected neurodegenerative disease. A significant advantage of ASL sequences in MRI is that it can be simply added to standard MRI protocol as a one-shot imaging assessment of brain structure and brain function. The performance of ASL is nearly equivalent to FDG PET scans while offering a non-invasive alternative, eliminating the need for another expensive PET imaging appointment and radioactive tracer injection. This efficiency supports its widespread adoption in routine clinical practice.”  said Prof. Haller, Chief Medical Officer and co-founder of BrainQuant. 

“At Wyss Geneva, we are dedicated to advancing neurotechnology to improve brain health and cognitive care,” said Erwin Böttinger, CEO of the Wyss Center in Geneva. “Our collaboration with EPFL, Université de Genève, and BrainQuant represents a significant advancement in non-invasive and accessible diagnostic alternatives. By integrating these innovations into routine clinical practices, we can enhance early detection and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.” 

Meet the Founding Team

BrainQuant’s leadership comprises experts dedicated to advancing neurodiagnostic technology:

• Sven Haller, MD, Chief Medical Officer: Neuroradiologist and Medical director at CIMC Geneva (Medbase), Switzerland, and a visiting professor in Uppsala, Sweden; Beijing, China; and Cairo, Egypt. Former chair of AI committee of ESNR. Deputy editor at Radiology. 
• Dimitri Van De Ville, Chief Scientific Advisor: Professor of Bioengineering at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and Université de Genève. Head of the Medical image processing lab. 
• Alessandro Volz, Chief Technology Officer: Software engineer and analyst, human interface designer, and system administrator. 
• Marwan Senhaji, Chief Executive Officer: Founder and CEO of HCKonnect, holding a Federal Diploma in Pharmacy with 12 years of experience in market development across the EMEA region in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and AI Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). 
• Tracy Laabs, Wyss Board Observer: Wyss Center Head of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships.

A shared mission for impact

At the Wyss Center, we believe that early detection saves lives. Our commitment to advancing neurotechnology through partnerships is reflected in the creation of BrainQuant, which represents a meaningful stride toward non-invasive, precise, and scalable diagnostics for neurodegenerative diseases.