OREANDA-NEWS. Oregon Health & Science University and GE Healthcare have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop collaborative research programs in cardiovascular medicine, imaging and big data research. The research programs are aimed at bringing together OHSU’s clinical expertise with GE Healthcare’s technology prowess to answer fundamental questions in biology and medicine.

“Through this collaboration, OHSU and GE Healthcare will apply leading-edge medical technology to a number of clinical challenges for which there is an unmet need,” said Daniel Dorsa, Ph.D., senior vice president for research at OHSU. “We are excited about the possibilities.”

Beginning in December 2015, OHSU and GE Healthcare will launch several pilot programs that will pave the way for deeper research collaborations, joint grant applications and the exploration of new areas for future research collaborations.  

“The core synergies between OHSU and GE Healthcare will help us achieve more than we could if working independently. Together, we will place an emphasis on innovation and collaboration to solve for challenges in providing improved patient care and outcomes, which we’re seeing both in Oregon and around the world,” said Bram Stolk, Ph.D., M.B.A., vice president and general manager of global research at GE Healthcare. “Our teams look forward to applying our learnings from this strategic research alliance.”  

In the first of many studies to come, GE Healthcare engineers anticipate teaming with OHSU physician-scientists to:

  •  Investigate the use of ultrasound for value-based health care in rural and underserved communities.
  • Adapt and test magnetic resonance pulse sequences to enhance neurovascular studies.

Through this MOU, GE Healthcare also will provide mentorship and support to OHSU through the MedTech Alliance, Biomedical Innovation Program and the OHSU Startup Conference.

“Collaborating with GE Healthcare on our commercialization and entrepreneurial efforts, we hope to spin out more startup companies and create even more excitement among our faculty to find innovative solutions to address a number of medical challenges,” said Abhijit Banerjee, Ph.D., M.B.A., director of business development, OHSU Technology Transfer and Business Development.