SHERPA
SHERPA (Smart Human-centred Effortless support for Professional clinical Applications) is a four-year research and innovation project funded by the EU Innovative Health Initiative (IHI). The project brings together 16 European partners to explore the development and implementation of AI-supported assistive technologies and robotics in interventional radiology, with a specific focus on neurovascular and oncological procedures.
SHERPA aims to support clinicians with intelligent, human-centred digital tools across the entire clinical workflow – from pre-procedural planning to intraprocedural guidance and post-procedural documentation. The overall goal is to improve patient outcomes, increase procedural efficiency, and promote the safe and ethical integration of AI in clinical decision-making.
Visit the official SHERPA website for detailed project information, partners, and updates:
ESMINT’s Role in the Project
As the leading European society in neurointervention, ESMINT contributes its strong network and expertise in clinical education and professional engagement.
Our main tasks within SHERPA include:
- Evaluating benefits and obstacles in the interaction between neurointerventionalists and assistive AI-supported technologies
- Conducting surveys and interviews with clinical end-users to gather structured feedback from the neurointerventional community
- Supporting the development of training and education formats to enable the safe and effective integration of new technologies into daily clinical practice
Through this involvement, ESMINT ensures that the clinical voice is central to the development of assistive systems – and that real-world perspectives inform the future of neurointerventional innovation.
Our Team
Dr. Matthias Bechstein, Department of Neuroradiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany, is the ESMINT Scientific Project Lead.
He is dual-trained in neurosurgery and neuroradiology and specialises in robotic and remote-support technologies in neurointervention. Within ESMINT, he also serves as the scientific coordinator of the e-fellowship programme.
