GE signs R&D agreement with National Cancer Institute

Researchers in GE’s nanotechnology lab have developed promising nanoparticle based imaging agents that could increase imaging resolution and sensitivity. The ability to see and target disease with higher resolution and sensitivity could promote the detection of cancer and cardiac disease at much earlier stages. These agents could also be used to more rapidly and accurately monitor the effectiveness of treatments, the company said.

The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory (NCL), operated by contractor Saic-Frederick, will apply its nanotechnology characterization tools to evaluate the safety and feasibility of GE’s nanoparticle diagnostic imaging agents.

The cooperative R&D agreement between GE and NCI is said to be the first under NCI’s new advanced technology partnerships initiative, which seeks to accelerate the delivery of new products to cancer patients.

Amit Kulkarni, manager, Chemical Nanotechnology Lab, GE Global Research, said: “The backbone of GE’s Early Health vision is to see, diagnose and treat disease at its earliest stages, so that we can improve patient outcomes. GE’s nanoparticle based imaging agents have the potential to be huge enablers of a new medical imaging paradigm, not only in the treatment of cancer but also cardiac disease, by allowing clinicians to see, target and treat disease at much earlier stages than what is possible today.”