The medicine of the future needs diversity: innovations in women’s health from the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region

It often starts off inconspicuously. No sharp pain, no sudden collapse, just a vague feeling that something is wrong. Fatigue, shortness of breath, restlessness: symptoms that many women are familiar with and all too often underestimate.

Yet cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among women. Despite this, only around 44 per cent of women are aware of this today, whereas a few years ago the figure was significantly higher. At the same time, it has been shown that up to 42 per cent of women who have a heart attack do not experience typical chest pain.

When standard diagnostics are not enough

The same statistics also show that women are more often diagnosed at a later stage or that their symptoms are misinterpreted. This calls for more up-to-date technology. Medical technology manufacturer Siemens Healthineers, headquartered in the Nuremberg metropolitan region, is setting a positive example. A new type of coronary CT scan reveals what was previously hidden: for example, life-threatening narrowing of the coronary arteries.

Today, such technologies enable not only the detection of blockages, but also the identification of their causes. This can make all the difference, particularly for women, whose conditions often manifest differently.

Artificial intelligence for earlier and better diagnoses

The potential of the ‘medicine of the future’ is also evident in the field of early cancer detection: the DENSE-BAVARIA research project at Erlangen University Hospital is using artificial intelligence to detect breast cancer at an earlier stage, particularly in women with dense breast tissue, where conventional mammograms reach their limits.

The aim is to make examinations more precise, less invasive and, at the same time, more accessible. Because in this area, time is of the essence when it comes to the success of treatment.

Eight years until diagnosis – and that needs to change

Another example illustrates just how significant the gaps in care still are: endometriosis. It is estimated that one in every 10 to 15 women is affected. Yet, on average, it takes around eight years for the condition to be diagnosed.

This is precisely where the EndoKI research project comes in. An interdisciplinary team is using artificial intelligence to develop a 3D model that combines various imaging techniques. The aim is to achieve faster, more precise and, above all, non-invasive diagnosis, thereby bringing about a noticeable improvement for millions of those affected.

Health thrives on diversity

The fact that gender-sensitive medicine is no longer a niche topic is also evident from the discussions taking place in the metropolitan region. Events such as Medical Valley’s ‘Health Needs Diversity’ make it clear that gender differences affect almost all areas of medicine, from cardiology and oncology to mental health.

At the same time, it is clear that better care can only be achieved through collaboration between research, industry, politics and society.

A strong network for the medicine of the future

With its unique concentration of research institutions, universities, medical technology companies and Medical Valley – the world’s leading medical technology cluster – the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region ranks among Europe’s leading centres of innovation. It is here that solutions are developed which have a tangible impact on the everyday lives of female patients.

On Women’s Health Day, the Nuremberg Metropolitan Region is sending a clear message:
Anyone who wants to shape the medicine of the future must understand the differences between people and invest specifically in better diagnostics, greater knowledge and innovative technologies.

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