A new collaboration between GE Healthcare Canada and BIOTIC will initiate a Halifax-based research and development (R&D) and technology commercialization program with the aim of bringing software technology advances to medical imaging.

The collaboration draws on the recent acquisition of GE Healthcare's 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technology at the QEII Health Sciences Centre (QEII) and BIOTIC's expertise in medical imaging based technology development, to explore the application of advanced software solutions to better diagnose and treat diseases of the brain, liver and prostate.

The goal of this collaboration is to validate and commercialize software-powered medical imaging technology for eventual world-wide use as added solutions and features to GE Healthcare's MRI systems. Each products is being developed as "pushbutton"-- improving efficiency, consistency and accuracy of the MRI results - potentially improving care for patients in Nova Scotia and around the world.

"GE Healthcare is keen to invest in collaborations that draw on the best capabilities from Canada's leading health care providers and research organizations to help commercialize products with the potential to advance our understanding and treatment of disease," said Ms Heather Chalmers, general manager for GE Healthcare Canada. "This collaboration with BIOTIC will draw on the considerable expertise in Nova Scotia to improve patient care for the Province and potentially the world."

The products being developed include technology focused on providing automated software solutions in the areas of: pre-surgical functional brain mapping, liver disease and prostate cancer.

"BIOTIC has a diverse team of scientists, clinicians and technicians. After receiving a high-field MRI from a QEII Foundation donor, we knew we had the infrastructure, capability and drive to get the attention of a multinational company. Working with the GE Healthcare team in Canada has been great; they are innovative, forward-thinking and we expect to make some dramatic improvements to patient care through our collaboration," said Dr Steven Beyea, scientific lead for BIOTIC.

The collaboration is underway, with a timeline to design, develop, test and commercialize the products over the next five years.