Neuro-rescue secures €2.19M in public-private funding to accelerate detection of neurological conditions in emergency departments

Barcelona, Spain – 13^th April 2026 — Methinks Software, S.L. announced the launch of Neuro-rescue, a project that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and telemedicine in order to accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions in patients presenting at non-specialized emergency departments.

Backed by €2.19 million in funding from the Spanish State Research Agency (AEI) under its Public-Private Collaboration (CPP) 2024 program, the initiative brings together a leading consortium including Methinks AI, Fundación Vithas, Fundació Món Clínic, and Atrys. The project aims to ensure that patients in general emergency settings—not in specialized units—can be rapidly assessed and referred for life-saving treatment when an undetected neurological condition is suspected.

Unlocking the potential of routine CT scans with AI

At the core of Neuro-rescue is a simple but powerful idea: leverage the most widely available imaging tool in emergency medicine—non-contrast head CT scans—to detect critical neurological conditions earlier and at scale.

“We know that there are many people living with undiagnosed intracranial aneurysms and other treatable neurological conditions,” said Víctor Salvia, VP of R&D at Methinks AI. “The opportunity lies in the fact that non-contrast CT scans are already performed in virtually every hospital. If we can detect subtle signs in these images, we can enable systematic, large-scale detection and referral.”

The platform integrates advanced AI algorithms developed by Methinks AI capable of automatically analyzing non-contrast CT scans to identify:

• Intracranial aneurysms
• Vessel occlusions
• Intracranial Haemorrhages and other treatable neurological conditions

Methinks AI brings proven expertise in AI-based neurological image analysis, with CE-marked technology already deployed in clinical settings, contributing to the advancement of acute stroke care worldwide.

By turning a standard triage tool into an advanced AI-powered screening mechanism, Neuro-rescue aims to reduce time to diagnosis in conditions where time is critical to improve patients' outcome. 

A connected system for faster, smarter care

Neuro-rescue combines AI-driven detection with telemedicine and seamless clinical integration to ensure that insights translate into action. The platform offers: 

• AI-powered detection: Methinks AI technology allows automated identification of neurological abnormalities from non-contrast CT scans, tailored for use in non-specialized settings, supporting general practitioners in the early detection of serious neurological conditions.
• Telemedicine support: Enables radiologists and neurologists to provide remote expertise in interpreting imaging findings and performing clinical assessments (such as NIHSS scoring), ensuring expert validation and informed decision-making, even in hospitals without 24-hour neurological coverage.
• Workflow integration: The tool is seamlessly integrated into existing care pathways, supporting structured processes and coordinated communication among healthcare professionals. This ensures that results are incorporated into clinical workflows, helping to reduce time to treatment.

“At Atrys, we are committed to making specialized clinical expertise available wherever patients need it, regardless of the resources of the hospital treating them,” said Dr. Facundo Nahuel, Head of Artificial Intelligence in the teleradiology department at Atrys. “By combining artificial intelligence with telemedicine, we can optimize hospital resources, support non-specialized emergency teams, and facilitate the early detection of treatable neurological conditions, sometimes even before symptoms become clinically evident. Initiatives such as Neuro-rescue broaden access to advanced neurological diagnosis and help ensure that more patients receive expert evaluation at the right time”.

The ultimate goal of this initiative is to accelerate patient access to specialized treatment, ensuring equitable, high-quality care for all patients.

The Vithas Group is implementing the project in four of its 22 hospitals. “As a leading hospital group in Spain, Vithas is committed to delivering a consistent standard of quality and safety across all our centers. The integration of tools that help identify treatable conditions which may otherwise go unnoticed on emergency CT scans enhances detection and reduces clinical variability,” said Dr. David Baulenas, Corporate Director of Healthcare, Quality and Innovation at Vithas and Vice President of Fundación Vithas.

The project’s final results are expected in the second half of 2028.

Expected impact

Neuro-rescue has the potential to shift neurological care toward prevention—particularly in conditions like intracranial aneurysms, which often remain undetected until catastrophic rupture.

“In many patients with cerebral aneurysms, diagnosis comes too late,” explained Dr Xabier Urra, Head of Neurology at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. “The non-contrast CT scan is the most common imaging test in emergency departments, and that is precisely where Neuro-rescue intervenes—flagging suspicious findings and accelerating the diagnostic pathway. Detecting an aneurysm in time opens the door to preventive, personalized management instead of facing a potentially devastating subarachnoid hemorrhage.”

By extending advanced assessment capabilities beyond specialized centers, Neuro-rescue is poised to deliver significant system-wide benefits:

• Democratized access to high-quality neurological diagnosis, regardless of hospital resources or location
• Improved patient quality of life and outcomes, driven by faster detection and treatment
• More efficient healthcare systems, leveraging remote expertise and reducing reliance on on-site specialists

This will be validated in real-world clinical environments through the participation of Fundación Vithas and Fundació Món Clínic, and integrated into Atrys Health’s telemedicine infrastructure. Neuro-rescue represents a major step forward in making advanced neurological care more accessible, scalable, and proactive.

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About Methinks AI

Founded in 2016, Methinks AI is a venture‑backed, commercial‑stage digital health company specializing in AI‑powered imaging assessment solutions for neurovascular emergencies. The company’s mission is to enable universal and timely access to medical care through advanced, accessible technology. Methinks AI is the first company to obtain CE marking for AI‑based large vessel occlusion (LVO) assessment support using non‑contrast CT, contributing to the advancement of early stroke care worldwide.

About Fundación Vithas

Fundación Vithas was established in Valencia on November 26, 2003, and serves as the research, education, and social outreach arm of the Vithas Group. The Foundation promotes and supports the research interests of medical specialists, acting both as a reference framework for the development of research projects across Vithas Hospitals and as a provider of advisory, management, and coordination support for these initiatives.

In 2025, Fundación Vithas managed 128 active clinical trials involving 963 patients and conducted 26 observational studies with a total of 340 participating patients. In addition to its research activity, the Foundation is actively involved in educational and social initiatives, collaborating on projects of varying scope and impact.

About Fundació Món Clínic

Founded in 2021, Fundació Privada Món Clínic Barcelona is a non‑profit organization closely linked to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, one of Spain’s leading university hospitals with national and international recognition. The Foundation’s mission is to protect health and promote well‑being by supporting healthcare activities, biomedical research and innovation, professional training, and social initiatives.

Through the Barcelona Clinical Coordinating Center (BCCC), Fundació Món Clínic operates as a fullservice contract research organization (CRO), providing clinical trial and medical device study design, monitoring, and analysis services. The Foundation also manages an Image Core Lab specializing in centralized imaging analysis for clinical research.

About Atrys

Atrys is a healthcare company operating in six countries that offers diagnostic services in telediagnostics, oncology, pathological anatomy and nuclear medicine, and provides its clients with clinical solutions designed to improve care and address long-term structural challenges.