Philips: European COMBINE-CT project advances to clinical validation
The European consortium coordinated by the Dutch group is launching five multicentre clinical studies to evaluate a care pathway based on AI-assisted CT imaging in coronary artery disease. This milestone marks the transition from technological development to clinical demonstration of the device.
A CT-based care pathway applied to coronary artery disease
Philips announced on 28 August 2026 that the COMBINE-CT project, a European consortium it coordinates, has transitioned from technological development to clinical validation of its CT-based care pathway for patients with coronary artery disease. Launched in 2023, this four-year project aims to transform coronary CT angiography (CCTA) from a diagnostic test into an AI-assisted platform for clinical decision support and treatment planning. The project is developing an automated and connected workflow designed to support each step of the care pathway, from treatment selection through intervention planning, procedure guidance and patient follow-up.
Five clinical studies and an eleven-member partnership
Five multicentre studies have been launched to evaluate the role of CCTA in diagnosis, treatment planning, procedure guidance and patient follow-up, while also exploring the use of spectral photon-counting CT for the assessment of coronary bypasses and implanted stents. These studies include notably CONVENE, CODEX-1 (covering data from over 1,000 patients), IMPACT, SPCCT-STENT and EVOLVE. The IHI COMBINE-CT public-private partnership brings together eleven partners from six European countries, with a total budget of 10 million euros. It is co-funded by industrial partners (Philips and Novo Nordisk) through in-kind contributions and additional resources, as well as by the European Union's Innovative Health Initiative. Clinical and academic partners include notably Amsterdam UMC, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, the Hospices Civils de Lyon, Sheba Medical Center and UNIKLINIK KÖLN.
