The University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and GE HealthCare have launched a Care Innovation Hub, a joint research initiative focused on tackling significant clinical challenges. The collaboration will concentrate on three main areas: improving access to advanced medical imaging, advancing non-invasive methods for diagnosing and managing neurological and neurodegenerative diseases, and enhancing precision oncology. By combining academic and industry expertise, the hub aims to develop, evaluate, and implement innovative technologies in clinical settings, with the goal of advancing disease diagnosis and treatment, optimizing hospital operations, and promoting equitable healthcare access.
This collaboration builds on decades of partnership between the two institutions and aims to address critical clinical challenges across various healthcare sectors. By combining UCSF’s extensive expertise in areas such as brain health, neurodegenerative diseases, and oncology, with GE HealthCare’s prowess in research and product development, the Care Innovation Hub intends to create transformative solutions that enhance patient care, improve access to services, and drive better clinical outcomes.
“Our collaboration with GE HealthCare brings a practical focus on addressing well-defined clinical objectives,” said Sharmila Majumdar, PhD, Research Vice Chair at UCSF’s Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging. “Together, we’re accelerating innovation in ways that will improve access to care and outcomes across healthcare settings.”
The Care Innovation Hub will focus on three key areas, each aimed at addressing significant clinical questions and creating high-impact solutions that can directly improve patient care:
1. Building an Imaging Service Line of the Future
UCSF and GE HealthCare are working together to revolutionize medical imaging services by developing more automated imaging techniques. A key goal is to create patient-specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods that adapt to each patient’s needs in real-time. By making imaging processes more efficient and accessible, this initiative aims to ensure that patients receive high-quality, personalized care that is consistent and scalable.
Key projects within this focus area include advancing quantitative imaging methods for cardiac and musculoskeletal diseases, as well as developing solutions for high-quality remote scanning. The central question being explored is: Can a fully automated imaging service line be created that minimizes inefficiencies while delivering exceptional care tailored to patients’ unique needs?
2. Advancing Solutions for Brain Health and Neurodegenerative Disease
UCSF and GE HealthCare are also focused on improving brain health and advancing the understanding of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s. By leveraging cutting-edge imaging technology, the team hopes to uncover critical insights into the links between white matter injury, vascular disease, and Alzheimer’s, and to identify biomarkers that can predict the efficacy of treatments for brain health interventions.
This research area seeks to answer: Can advanced imaging and biomarkers help us better understand aging and neurodegenerative diseases, and lead to better interventions for conditions like Alzheimer’s?
3. Driving Accessible Precision Oncology
In the field of oncology, the Care Innovation Hub aims to develop new methods for monitoring patient responses to radiopharmaceutical therapies (RPTs). The collaboration will focus on creating standardized protocols to visualize new therapeutic approaches, such as the use of alpha-emitting radiopharmaceuticals. Through these efforts, UCSF and GE HealthCare seek to build methods that assess how patients respond to these innovative treatments and expand access to theranostics—integrating diagnostics and therapeutics—so that clinicians can deliver more personalized cancer care, even in local communities.
The research will explore whether new methods can be developed to assess how patients respond to RPTs and ensure these therapies are more widely accessible, ensuring that patients in various settings can benefit from precision treatments.
Collaborative Effort and Future Impact
“We’re honored to collaborate with UCSF on this important work, which has the potential to significantly improve patient outcomes and address life-threatening diseases like Alzheimer’s disease and prostate cancer worldwide,” said Erin Angel, PhD, GE HealthCare Global Vice President of Research and Scientific Affairs. “By combining our strengths, we’re taking steps toward solutions that meet real clinical needs. Together, we’re building something we hope will make a meaningful difference for patients and the future of healthcare.”
The research activities under this collaboration will take place at UCSF’s facilities in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. The efforts will bring together UCSF’s renowned research and clinical capabilities with GE HealthCare’s innovative technologies, setting the stage for breakthroughs that address the most pressing healthcare challenges.
About UCSF Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging
UCSF is a leading institution focused on improving global health through advanced biomedical research, healthcare education, and excellent care delivery. The Department of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging at UCSF is known for its cutting-edge research in diagnostic, therapeutic, and interventional radiology. It is committed to training the next generation of radiologists and developing new approaches to diagnosing and treating disease, making significant strides toward improving patient outcomes in numerous clinical areas.
Through the Care Innovation Hub, UCSF and GE HealthCare aim to create the next wave of medical innovations that will improve the diagnosis and treatment of neurological conditions, heart disease, cancer, and other complex conditions. This partnership holds the promise of transforming healthcare delivery and patient outcomes across the globe.
