News article: When science fiction becomes science fact – AI for rare disease diagnosis
The idea that an AI system could detect a disease that appears nowhere in a patient’s medical record sounds like something from speculative fiction. At Volv Global, it is something we do today. In brief Volv Global is featured in The Biopôle Review, published by Biopôle Lausanne, as part of an exploration of how science […]
Steroids Are the Red Flag in IBD Care That We Keep Ignoring
By Léon Van Wouwe, Clinical Innovation Director, Volv Global Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) management has evolved significantly with advanced therapies and data-driven care strategies. Yet, one persistent issue continues to undermine treatment outcomes: repeated steroid use. While steroids provide short-term relief, their recurring use often signals deeper inefficiencies in care pathways, delayed treatment optimisation, and […]
Advocacy in rare disease: Driving technology advances – 2023 Webinar
Introduction Advocacy plays a critical role in accelerating progress in rare diseases. As technology advances, collaboration between patient communities, researchers, healthcare systems, and innovators becomes essential to shorten diagnostic delays and ensure scientific breakthroughs translate into real patient benefit. This webinar discussion brought together experts from across healthcare, policy, and industry to explore how data […]
Closing the diagnostic gap: stopping cancer patients from losing a winnable battle
By Léon Van Wouwe, Clinical Innovation Director, Volv Global Introduction Earlier cancer detection remains one of the most powerful opportunities to improve survival outcomes and reduce treatment burden. Despite major advances in oncology therapies, diagnostic delays continue to prevent many patients from accessing treatment at the stage where it can be most effective. With this […]
Finding The Patients We’re Missing – Rare Rebels™ Podcast
Finding the Patients We’re Missing Rare diseases often remain undiagnosed for years, leaving patients without timely treatment and care. Despite advancements in healthcare and data analytics, a significant diagnostic gap persists across healthcare systems worldwide. Identifying these “hidden” patients earlier is critical to improving outcomes, reducing disease progression, and enabling more effective interventions. Bridging this […]
Uncovering the uncommon: Advances in Rare Disease diagnosis – 2024 Podcast
In 2024, Sanofi – working in partnership with The BMJ – released the Rairity: Air Time For Rare Diseases podcast series on rare diseases and rare blood disorders. In Episode 3, “Uncovering the uncommon: Advances in Rare Disease diagnosis”, Volv Global’s Clinical Innovation Director, Léon van Wouwe, joined Penny Dhanjal (Sanofi) and Stefaan Sansen (Sanofi) […]
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Why We Need Better Patient Identification for 21st-Century Treatments
By Léon Van Wouwe, Clinical Innovation Director, Volv Global Introduction: COPD as a “Syndrome,” Not Just One Disease Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is often described as “smoker’s lung,” but modern guidelines now define it as a heterogeneous lung condition caused by damage to the airways and/or air sacs (emphysema) from different risk factors, […]
MASH/NASH: Why Therapeutic Breakthroughs Demand a New Era of Patient Identification
By Léon Van Wouwe, Clinical Innovation Director, Volv Global Introduction: A Silent Disease Becoming a Public Health Emergency Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), historically known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), has rapidly shifted from an obscure hepatology concern to one of the fastest-growing causes of advanced liver disease worldwide. Around one-third of adults globally are estimated […]
Bridging gaps across the CLL care pathway – Part 1: From Signal to Stratification
By Léon Van Wouwe, Clinical Innovation Director, Volv Global Early detection and personalised treatment in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) remain a major challenge across healthcare systems. This article by Volv Global explores how AI-driven algorithms can identify disease signals earlier, guide smarter diagnostic pathways, and reduce inefficiencies in patient care. This piece is Part 1 […]
Cracking the Multiple Myeloma Code: Why Systemic Change is Needed to Match Therapeutic Breakthroughs
By Léon Van Wouwe, Clinical Innovation Director, Volv Global A Hidden Cancer in Plain Sight Multiple myeloma (MM) has long been described as an “elusive” cancer. Unlike acute leukæmias or aggressive lymphomas, its onset is subtle, frequently disguised by nonspecific symptoms: bone pain attributed to arthritis, fatigue mistaken for aging, or anæmia blamed on […]